Election day in America - three things to know

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) -

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) — Control of Congress is at stake as Americans head to the polls Tuesday, joining tens of millions who have already voted early.

From the seats on the ballot to federal election monitoring, here are three things to know.

1. Every House seat is up for election

All 435 seats in the U.S. House and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot, along with hundreds of local races.

The results will determine which party controls Congress and shape President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his agenda during the next two years.

2. Millions voted before Election Day

Nearly 60 million Americans cast ballots before Election Day, either through early in-person voting or by mail.

That’s out of roughly 250 million Americans eligible to vote, according to Pew Research Center.

However, early voting totals alone won’t reveal which party is gaining ground. Even in states that report voters’ party registrations, party affiliations don’t always represent which candidates they supported.

3. Federal monitors are deploying nationwide

The Justice Department has announced it’s deploying approximately 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states, marking the department’s first monitoring effort to reach every state.

Their work includes monitoring compliance with federal voting rights laws, including protections against voter intimidation and requirements ensuring access for voters with disabilities.

Once polls close, close contests and the time needed to count outstanding ballots could leave control of Congress unsettled beyond election night.