Washington, Sept. 18 (SANA)Early voting in theU.S.midterm elections began Friday, with voters in Virginia and several other states able to start casting ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Virginia began in-person early voting Friday, while voters in states including Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota can cast absentee ballots in person, according to The Associated Press. Broader early voting is scheduled to begin in those and other states in the coming weeks.

The elections will determine control of theU.S. Houseand Senate and include gubernatorial and state legislative races in many states. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers ofCongress.

The vote comes during President Donald Trump’s second term, with the makeup of Congress after the election set to shape the legislative and oversight environment during his final two years in office.

The campaign is unfolding amid voter concerns over the cost of living, immigration, the war in Iran and the impact of artificial intelligence, as well as continuing disputes over election administration and voting methods.

Election officials have said they are prepared for the voting period and expressed confidence in the accuracy and security of election systems, while voting rights groups have encouraged Americans to make use of early voting options.

The election also follows an unusual wave of mid-decade congressional redistricting, with legal and political disputes over some new maps continuing as voting gets underway.

North Carolina began sending mail ballots earlier this month, while other states are starting or preparing to start absentee and early voting. Minnesota, for example, made ballots available for in-person and mail voting beginning Sept. 18.

The U.S. Supreme Courtthis week rejected an effort by the Trump administration to impose new restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, allowing states to continue operating their existing vote-by-mail systems for the election.