In just a few hours, Americans will choose the successor to President Joe Biden. The contenders? Biden’s Vice President, Kamala Harris, or former President Donald Trump, who is vying to return to the Oval Office.
Record-Breaking Early Voting Turnout
Nearly half of the American electorate has already cast their ballots in early voting, with close to 75 million votes submitted. This surge includes a significant number of Republican voters after Trump urged his supporters to vote as early as possible. The turnout is setting record levels.
Neck-and-Neck Race
Trump and Harris are virtually tied, with polling tighter than ever. On average, national polls show Trump leading by just 0.1% (“RealClearPolitics”), with three of the latest polls reporting a dead heat. However, due to the Electoral College system, the election outcome hinges on seven key battleground states, where both candidates are also nearly even. Trump holds narrow leads in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia, while Harris leads in Wisconsin and Michigan. In Pennsylvania, the biggest battleground prize with 19 electoral votes, they are tied.
Polling expert Nate Silver has released his tightest final prediction yet: Trump has a 51.2% chance of winning, while Harris stands at 48.1%. If the polls are accurate, the nation could be in for the most suspenseful election yet.
Campaigns Make Last-Minute Push
Both campaigns are going full throttle in the final hours. Harris made a blitz through Pennsylvania on Monday, wrapping up with a star-studded concert in Philadelphia featuring Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, and more. Trump held four rallies: one in North Carolina, two in Pennsylvania, and a final stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a tradition from his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
Harris focused her closing arguments on women’s issues and warnings about Trump, maintaining that her campaign remains “joyful” and positive, despite heated accusations of authoritarianism against her opponent. Trump, meanwhile, hammered on immigration and promised an end to global conflicts and a stronger America, though his tone turned somber as he warned of violence against media and political adversaries.
Gender Divide at Historic High
Polls show a massive gender divide, with men largely favoring Trump and women rallying around Harris. It’s shaping up to be a fierce gender battle for the White House.
As the election approaches, tension in the U.S. is palpable. Fears of a close result are stoking worries of a prolonged vote-counting process that could ignite unrest. In Pennsylvania, the swing state observed by US Live, distrust over the election’s integrity is growing. Trump supporters are reportedly monitoring election offices, photographing license plates of election workers’ vehicles, almost like amateur detectives searching for irregularities. Some voters report feeling intimidated by these actions.
In Washington, D.C., fears of unrest have prompted authorities to board up buildings and heighten security at the White House.
Polarization at Its Peak
Conversations with voters reveal the deep polarization within U.S. society. Harris supporters fear an end to democracy and the rise of fascism if Trump wins. Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters warn of a collapse of America into chaos, with rising immigration and “woke insanity” if Democrats remain in power. Both sides promise to unify the country, but in today’s volatile America, that promise seems like wishful thinking.
