Americans are deciding whether the next US president will be Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Of the 244 million voters eligible to vote, 84 million made their decision in so-called early voting – either by mail or in person. Here are nine things to know about the US elections today.
1. Every third voter took part in the so-called early voting
In the United States, elections were held for the president, members of Congress and local authorities. About 244 million Americans were eligible to vote, and more than 84 million of them have cast ballots through early and mail-in voting so far.
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2. Fight for 270 electoral votes
There are 538 total electors – exactly as many as members of the House of Representatives and senators combined, plus three from the District Colombia (this one is not a state, but a federal territory covering the capital of the USA, Washington, and does not have its own representatives and senators – ed.). To become president, you need to have 270 out of a total of 538 on your side.
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Elon Musk PAP/EPA/SARAH YENESEL
3. Musk at Trump's election night
Billionaire Elon Musk spent election night at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where Donald Trump and his staff were waiting for the election results. The owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the X platform very actively supported the Republican in his campaign.
4. No surprise in Iowa
Three days before the elections, he was renowned survey Ann Selzer and the “Des Moines Register” predicted the victory of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in Iowa, previously considered safe for Republicans. However, on election night, CNN reported that Donald Trump would be the clear winner.
5. Last to vote in Alaska
There is no single closing time for polling places in the United States. Those in Alaska close at the latest – at 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday, i.e. at 7 a.m. in Poland.
Counting votes cast in the US presidential electionPAP/EPA
6. Fight for victory in “swinging” states
There are seven so-called swing states where it is not certain how their voters will vote and they will decide the outcome of the vote. They are: Arizona (11 electoral votes), Georgia (16), Michigan (15), Nevada (6), North Carolina (16) and Pennsylvania (19).
7. False bomb scares
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that false bomb threats targeting polling places appeared to be sent from Russian email domains. Such threats have been made in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin, which are among the “swing” states where voters do not clearly lean toward any candidate.
8. Americans elect representatives of the House of Representatives and the Senate
In addition to the new president of the White House, Americans also elect representatives to the House of Representatives, as well as 1/3 of the members of the Senate.
Pennsylvania is one of the so-called swing statesPAP/EPA
9. When will we know the election results?
After the end of voting, the counting of votes begins, those cast during Election Day and in earlier voting – in person and by correspondence. Results from individual states may be announced on election night, but the results of the 2020 duel between Trump and Biden were announced only on Saturday around 5 p.m. Polish time.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/SARAH YENESEL