U.S. Presidential Election 2024: The United States heads to the polls today, November 5, to elect its next president in a high-stakes race between former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party and current Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party.
Polling stations across the country open at 7 a.m. local time in most states, and voting will continue until the evening, with closing times between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) depending on the state.
Record Early Voting Numbers
This election cycle has already seen a significant turnout in early voting. According to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, over 78 million Americans have cast their ballots in advance through options like mail-in and in-person early voting. Of these, approximately 42.6 million votes were cast in person, while another 35.3 million were sent via mail. Even President Joe Biden participated in early voting, reflecting the popularity of this voting method. In the previous 2020 election, a record 101 million people voted early, largely due to COVID-19-related precautions that encouraged mail-in and early voting.
Trump’s Calls for Vigilance, Harris’s Campaign Focus
Donald Trump, who had raised concerns about the integrity of mail-in ballots in the 2020 election, has called on his supporters this year to remain vigilant and active at polling stations. This has amplified focus on election monitoring amid concerns about election integrity. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has been campaigning on continuing the work started by the Biden administration and is advocating for progressive policies on issues like climate change, healthcare, and social equality.
Understanding the U.S. Electoral Process
In the United States, the election process for president involves a unique system known as the Electoral College. The election day results determine the electors for each state, totaling 538 electors across all states. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Each major party nominates its presidential candidate based on a lengthy primary and caucus process that spans many months and involves state-by-state contests to gauge voter support.
When Will Results Be Announced?
Although voting will conclude today, it may take several days for the final results to be confirmed, especially given the volume of mail-in and absentee ballots, which require additional time to process. Official certification and counting will continue over the coming days, and it is expected that the new president will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
As Americans head to the polls today, the world is watching to see who will emerge victorious in this critical election—will it be former President Trump, seeking a return to the Oval Office, or Vice President Harris, who could make history as the first female president of the United States?
