More than 54 million Americans cast ballots before Election Day, a midterm record, yet early data showed overall turnout running close to 2022 levels as polls began closing Tuesday evening.

The early vote total was nearly 9 million higher than in 2022, Fox News reported, citing The Associated Press.

The full picture was more mixed. Overall turnout so far, including mail, early and Election Day votes, was on average very similar to the same point on Election Day in 2022, the NBC News Decision Desk estimated. In Florida, turnout was tracking about even with 2022, and jurisdictions that traditionally favor Republicans were lagging behind those that lean Democratic, NBC News reported.

Some states stood out. Maine is on track to break its record for midterm turnout, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said. In Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin reported higher turnout and unusually long ballots causing longer waits at some polling places, Boston 25 News reported. Lowell voters faced a four-card ballot.

In Texas, more than 236,000 people had voted in person in Harris County on Election Day, ABC13 Houston reported. In Fairfax County, Virginia, turnout reached 41.2% by noon when early ballots were included, according to FFXnow. The county drew more than 55% of registered voters in 2022.

In Dearborn, Michigan, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said turnout had already passed the 2022 total with seven hours of voting left, NBC News reported.

Control of Congress is on the line, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats at stake, along with 36 governor's races. Republicans are defending narrow majorities in both chambers. Polls have shown Democrats more energized, and Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters has pinned GOP hopes on Election Day voters. "If our voters turn out, we win," he told Fox News.

The first polls closed at 6 p.m. EST in parts of Indiana and Kentucky. North Carolina will not release results until at least 8:15 p.m. after the state extended voting at five polling places hit by computer and printer problems, WFAE reported.

Turnout figures were current as of about 6:30 p.m. EST Tuesday and are expected to change.