TL;DR
- Presidential Election Day: Americans vote today between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, with first polls closing at 6 PM EST and final results potentially delayed due to tight margins.
- Swing States in Focus: Seven crucial states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) will determine the outcome, with each having different vote-counting timelines.
- Legal Challenges: Over 100 pre-election lawsuits have already been filed, primarily by Republicans, challenging voter eligibility and management, with potential recounts in states like Pennsylvania if margin is within 0.5%.
- Final Timeline: Electoral college meets December 17, Congress confirms on January 6, and the winner takes oath at inauguration on January 20, 2025, marking America’s 60th presidential inauguration.
The United States begins its presidential election today as voters choose between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump in what appears to be one of the closest races in recent history.
First polls close at 6:00 PM EST across the country, with the final locations concluding at 1:00 AM EST Wednesday. However, election officials and experts warn that determining a winner could take significantly longer than in previous years due to the tight margins in key battleground states.
“We want a landslide. We can’t let anything happen,” Trump declared during a recent rally in Georgia, while both campaigns prepare for potential legal challenges to the results.
Who Has the Chance to Win, Trump or Harris?
Seven crucial swing states will likely determine the outcome: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevad, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Each state follows different vote-counting procedures and timelines:
Georgia expects to count 75% of votes within two hours after polls close at 7:00 PM EST. Pennsylvania, considered the crown jewel of swing states, cannot begin counting until election morning, with officials predicting at least 24 hours before a clear picture emerges.
The vote counting process has evolved since 2020. Michigan has accelerated its procedures, though results aren’t expected until Wednesday evening. Arizona’s largest county, Maricopa, warns that processing mail-in ballots could take up to 13 days.
More than 100 pre-election lawsuits have already been filed, primarily by Republicans, challenging voter eligibility and roll management. Election officials must verify and process ballots through a rigorous canvassing procedure that includes examining each ballot for damage and investigating inconsistencies.
The electoral college will convene on December 17 to cast their votes, with Congress meeting on January 6 to confirm the new president. The winner will take the oath of office at the inauguration scheduled for January 20, 2025, marking the nation’s 60th presidential inauguration.
In the event of an electoral college tie – 269 votes each – the House of Representatives would select the president while the Senate would choose the vice president, though this hasn’t occurred in two centuries.
The nation remains watchful as election officials prepare for various scenarios, including potential recounts and legal challenges, particularly in Pennsylvania where state law requires a recount if the margin of victory is half a percentage point or less.
