Midterm elections 2018 explained: Who will win and when will results be announced?
AMERICA will head to the polls on November 6 for the midterm elections. So who will win and when will we see results?
The midterm elections are of crucial importance to President Donald Trump.
If the Democrats take back control of the house, it could severely limit what Mr Trump can do for the final two years of his tenure.
And a dramatic swing is possible - historically, the midterms usually show a swing away from the presidential party.
The run-up to these elections has been a whirlwind for the president, with scandals and violence resulting in his approval ratings fluctuating wildly.
President Trump's approval ratings have been high, with 42.2 percent approving of the sitting president, according to polling site FiveThirtyEight.
But a recent survey found the approval rating dramatically dropped from 44 percent to 40 percent a week before the US midterm elections, according to the latest Gallup poll.
The research-based company tracks daily the percentage of Americans who approve or disapprove of the job Trump is doing as President.
The weekly results are based on telephone interviews with approximately 1,500 adults.
READ MORE: A simple guide to how the midterms work
Who will win the midterms?
According to FiveThirtyEight, it’s highly likely the House of Representatives will go to the Democrats.
Polls show they have a six in seven chance, or 86.1 percent.
Republicans have a one in seven chance of retaining control, or 13.9 percent.
READ MORE: What will the midterms decide?
The Senate shows quite the opposite, with the Democrats having a one in seven, or 15.1 percent shot of flipping control.
Republicans, on the other hand, have a six in seven, or 84.9 percent chance of retaining control.
When will results be announced?
Counting begins as soon as polls close, which will be 8pm at the latest on November 6.
Judging by the last midterms in 2014, we can expect to see the first states declaring results around midnight.
By the early hours of November 7, we should know which way the House will swing.
Why is this so important for Trump?
The results will have a major impact on the rest of Mr Trump’s presidency.
Midterm elections: CNN analyses Trump's approval rating
If the Republicans retain control, it would be a huge boost for Donald Trump and ensure he can pass laws without much obstruction.
If the Democrats take back Congress, it could seriously hinder the amount of power the president has for the next two years.
Even if the Democrats only take the House of Representatives, they could block Mr Trump’s plans as he tries to put them forward.
Midterms often swing the majority in the House - of the 21 midterms that have been held since 1934, the President's party has only made gains in the House three times and in the Senate five times.