On Election Day, NBC News and a coalition of news outlets gathered real‑time insights from voters in 45 pivotal states to decode the why behind the ballot.
Key points
- Exit polls aim to reveal voter motivations rather than report vote totals.
- The 2026 effort covered 45 key states using a blend of in‑person, mail, phone and online methods.
- Results will inform public understanding of the electorate while official counts are still pending.
NBC News, together with a group of other news organizations, carried out exit polling across the country in 45 key states on Election Day, aiming to capture a snapshot of voter sentiment as the 2026 midterm elections unfolded.
The poll combines in‑person interviews conducted at polling places with additional data gathered through mail, phone and online surveys, a mix designed to include early voters and those who cast mail‑in ballots.
Methodology of the 2026 Exit Polls
These exit polls are not official vote counts; instead, they focus on the thinking and motives of voters, offering a window into the demographic makeup and issues that drove turnout.
Analysts will use the findings to help the public better understand the electorate, while awaiting the certified election results that will determine control of the House and Senate.
Purpose and Limitations of Exit Poll Data
The exit‑poll data will be integrated into live election coverage, providing context for the emerging political landscape without substituting for the final vote tallies.
Reader questions
What are exit polls?
Exit polls are surveys of voters taken on Election Day that explore why people voted the way they did, rather than counting the actual votes.
How were the 2026 exit polls conducted?
NBC News and partners conducted in‑person interviews at polling places and supplemented them with mail, phone and online surveys to capture early and mail‑in voters across 45 states.
Why aren't exit polls considered official results?
Exit polls sample a portion of voters and focus on motivations; they do not tally every ballot, so they cannot replace certified vote counts.
Source: nbcnews.com
