US midterm early voting begins amid legal disputes

US midterm elections early voting Virginia election law voter registration congressional control

Early in-person voting has commenced for the 2026 US midterm elections, with Virginia, Minnesota, Idaho, and South Dakota among the first states to begin accepting ballots. The November 3 elections will determine the control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as well as various governorships and state legislatures. Key campaign issues include the cost of living, the ongoing war in Iran, immigration enforcement, and artificial intelligence regulation.

In Virginia, the election includes several constitutional amendment referendums, including a proposed amendment to establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.

Separately, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has raised concerns regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Following a whistleblower report, Jones alleged that DHS employees may have violated state law by using voter lookup tools to identify potential noncitizen voters. The whistleblower claims agents were tasked with reviewing approximately 40 individuals per day to identify unlawful voters. Jones has demanded that DHS confirm whether it directed personnel to access protected voter information without permission, noting that the Virginia Election Code requires a court order for such disclosures.

Entities

Beth Macy · Charniele Herring · Department of Homeland Security · Donald Trump · Jay Jones · Jennifer Boysko · Roanoke NAACP · U.S. Congress · U.S. House of Representatives · United States · Virginia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Election administrators report they are prepared to ensure the accuracy and security of the vote. krmg.com · news24online.com · gulfnews.com · thevaultznews.com · www.fcnp.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones stated that the Virginia Election Code prohibits disclosing protected voter information to the federal government without a court order. www.newsday.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The proposed Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment would add a section to the state constitution declaring a fundamental right to reproductive freedom. thefederalist.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Early in-person voting in Virginia runs from September 18 through October 31. farmvilleherald.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] A whistleblower alleged that DHS agents were tasked with reviewing 40 individuals per day to identify potential noncitizen voters. www.newsday.com