Mid-term elections 2018: Trump makes final offer for the votes

US President Donald Trump made a final offer to voters to support the Republican party on the eve of the midterm elections.

"All we have achieved is in play tomorrow," he said at a blitz of three final rallies.

Tuesday's national vote is considered a referendum on his presidency.

His ability to govern in the last two years of his term will depend on the outcome.

Americans go to the polls to vote on the 435 seats in the House, 35 out of 100 Senate seats and dozens of state governors.

• All you need to know before mid-term
• Your simple guide for the United States at mid-point

With Congressional control in suspense, the president has stepped up speeches on controversial issues to revitalize his base.

Former President Barack Obama – in election campaign for the Democratic Party – said earlier Monday that "the character of our country was on the ballot".

On Twitter, he said the vote "could be the most important of our lives".

What is at stake?

The mid-term will decide which party will control both houses of Congress.

If the Republicans maintain their hold on the Senate and the House of Representatives, they could rely on their program and that of President Trump.

But if the Democrats seized control of one or both houses, they could block or even reverse Mr. Trump's plans.

What you need to know about the mid-term:

The pollsters believe that Democrats could win the 23 seats they need to occupy the House of Representatives, or even fifteen additional seats.

However, Democrats should not have the two seats needed to take control of the Senate.

Governors are also selected in 36 of the 50 states.

What is happening on Election Day?

After months of campaigning, speculation and billions of dollars spent on advertising, leaflets and stickers, voters will have the last word on Tuesday.

Democratic candidates in the House of Representatives raised $ 649 million (500 million pounds sterling) from individual donors, more than double the $ 312 million of Republicans.

The Democrats hope to achieve a "medium-term wave" – ​​a dazzling victory that will change the shape of the political map in the United States.

Many people have already voted.

According to the US Elections Project, an information source based at the University of Florida, some 34.3 million people voted early and the actual number is likely higher. This figure in 2014 was only 27.5 million.

In Texas, advance polls exceeded the total voter turnout in 2014.

However, thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday along the east coast, as well as snowstorms in the Midwest, which could affect turnout.

The first polls close at 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT).

What are the key issues?

At his last election rallies in Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri, Trump picked up his main concerns, particularly insisting that Democrats could harm the economy and allow for immigration. illegal increased.

Democratic candidates, on the other hand, tended to avoid confronting the president directly, focusing instead on so-called "kitchen table" issues, such as health care and economic inequality.

The party hopes that younger voters, suburban moderates and minorities will be drawn to the polls to react against the president's rhetoric.

Mr. Trump has had to face many criticisms for his splitting language.

Monday, Facebook, NBC and even Trump's favorite network, Fox News, have announced that they will stop broadcasting a 30 second advertisement paid for by his campaign, which featured a Mexican undocumented immigrant.

In an interview with ABC on Monday, the president said he wanted to have "a much softer tone" throughout his presidency.

"I think to a certain extent I do not have a choice, but maybe so, and I might have been softer from that point of view."