US Votes: Donald Trump Or Kamala Harris? 10 Important Points
As Americans cast their votes to choose between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, both candidates are eyeing the crucial 270 electoral votes needed to secure victory. Key battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will play pivotal roles. Both contenders have adopted unique campaign strategies to lock in their bases and expand voter outreach, especially in swing states where support is evenly split. Early voting numbers and on-the-ground mobilisation reflect high stakes and voter engagement, while officials stress election integrity and combat misinformation. Here are 10 key points summarising Election Day:
1. Harris and Trump each secured three votes from Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, maintaining a longstanding tradition where the community votes at midnight, giving the earliest results. This symbolic tie underscores the competitiveness of the race and sets the tone for a potentially tight election outcome nationwide.
2. Kamala Harris’s past experience in a close 2010 race for California attorney general, which she won after trailing on Election Night, is resonating with her team. Former aides recall the anxiety and determination that characterised that campaign, drawing parallels to the current election and stressing Harris’s resilience in tight political battles.
3. Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, and Don Pettit exercised their right to vote from the International Space Station, showcasing the extent to which Americans value civic duty. Their ballots were transmitted via NASA’s satellite communication system, exemplifying how technological innovation supports democratic participation even beyond Earth.
4. Many women, including first-time voters and mothers accompanied by their daughters, queued at polling stations, reflecting on the symbolic nature of voting for a potential first female president of colour. Voter concerns ranged from economic issues like inflation to the broader hope of setting a historic milestone with Harris’s election.
5. Former President Trump is observing election results from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, joined by family and close associates. A watch party with resort members has been arranged, and a ‘war room’ has been established in his campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, indicating the high stakes for his political future.
6. Trump, when asked whether he would instruct supporters to avoid violence and accept the results if defeated, responded dismissively, stating he did not need to address the matter. This response drew attention, considering the violent January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection after his 2020 loss and refusal to concede.
7. More than 83 million early votes have been cast, reflecting significant participation, though lower than 2020 figures when mail-in voting surged due to the pandemic. Officials have noted that this high turnout could indicate fierce competition, particularly in battleground states that could swing the election outcome.
8. Both Pennsylvania and Florida have committed to quick vote counting. Florida’s Secretary of State assured voters that results would be known by bedtime, while Philadelphia officials expressed confidence in a faster count compared to 2020, anticipating results by midday Wednesday if processes go smoothly.
9. The Harris campaign is vigorously mobilising in Pennsylvania, with more than 100,000 door knocks reported by 11 a.m. ET on Election Day. The push underscores Harris’s strategy to secure a decisive win in swing states, especially in traditionally conservative areas where the campaign has courted moderate and Latino voters.
10. Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger optimistically projected that state results would be available by late evening, aiming for a comprehensive vote tally by 10:30 p.m. Smaller counties plan to complete their counts by that time, contributing to a clearer early outcome in the critical battleground state.
This election will hinge on results from swing states, the potential for recounts in close races, and the overall functioning of the US electoral college system, which can prolong the final announcement.
