Voters are streaming to the polls across America to decide one of the most divisive political contests in modern US history, which is widely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump.

Polls opened on the east coast at 5am and the final polls will close in Alaska at midnight eastern time. Even before Americans arrived at polling sites on the two-year anniversary of Mr Trump’s ground-shifting victory, his polarising policies and rhetoric had prompted more than 30m to cast ballots in early voting, according to the Catalyst consultancy, shattering records for previous midterm elections.

Mr Trump has campaigned furiously over the past two months — more than any other president has for midterm elections — criss-crossing the country and making multiple trips to key states such as Montana in an effort to help the Republican party keep control of the House and Senate.