WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Vote counting for the U.S. 2018 midterm elections has begun Tuesday evening after polling stations in some eastern states were closed.

The states of Indiana and parts of the state of Kentucky were the first to shutter their polling stations, states including Virginia, Florida, Georgia soon followed.

Among the states that are the earliest to start counting their votes, the most watched races include the Senate race in the states of Indiana and Florida, as well as the governorship races in the states of Florida and Georgia.

The races were viewed as bellwether races that may foretell the trajectory of the midterm elections.

The Democratic Party hopes to flip at least two Senate seats and 23 House seats to gain the majority in both chambers of the Congress.

According to most pre-voting polls, the Democratic Party was favored to win the House but would have a much harder time winning the Senate, but as many races are closely contested, most media or polling institutions are being cautious in predicting results.

Some voting officials overseeing polling stations are reporting higher than usual turnout for midterm elections, which is in accordance with a trend shown by record-breaking early voting and donation numbers.