As the United States heads to the polls for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, November 5, Americans and international observers await results that may not be quickly determined.
This year’s contest between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump hinges largely on the outcomes in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
If neither candidate achieves decisive wins in these swing states, counting the final votes could take days or even weeks. Close races, with polls showing tight margins—such as Trump’s 0.4 per cent lead in Pennsylvania—could lead to recounts and potentially prolonged legal battles.
According to IANS, Trump and Harris are both prepared for legal challenges in a narrow contest, with each party equipped with legal teams ready to intervene.
Unlike a direct popular vote, the US president is chosen by the electoral college, which assigns 538 electoral votes across states based on population, with most states following a winner-takes-all system. This structure means that a candidate could secure the popular vote but still lose the election if they fall short in electoral votes, as happened in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost to Trump in the electoral college, 306 to 227.
The decentralised nature of US elections, managed independently by each state, adds another layer of complexity. There is no single national election commission, and the Federal Election Commission oversees only campaign finance. States follow varying schedules for closing polls and counting absentee ballots, leading to delays in the official count.
Typically, early indicators of voting trends may be reported by media outlets around 9pm ET, about an hour after polls close in Pennsylvania. However, final outcomes will likely be delayed in several states due to legal reviews and recounts. Each state’s governor must submit official electoral vote tallies, known as “Certificates of Ascertainment,” by December 11 to the National Archivist. The electoral college is scheduled to formally meet on December 17, with electors voting in their state capitals.
If either candidate can secure substantial leads in key states, the results could be clear by midnight ET. But if the race is close, the official result could remain uncertain for days, leaving the nation and the world in suspense.
This year’s contest between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump hinges largely on the outcomes in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
If neither candidate achieves decisive wins in these swing states, counting the final votes could take days or even weeks. Close races, with polls showing tight margins—such as Trump’s 0.4 per cent lead in Pennsylvania—could lead to recounts and potentially prolonged legal battles.
According to IANS, Trump and Harris are both prepared for legal challenges in a narrow contest, with each party equipped with legal teams ready to intervene.
Unlike a direct popular vote, the US president is chosen by the electoral college, which assigns 538 electoral votes across states based on population, with most states following a winner-takes-all system. This structure means that a candidate could secure the popular vote but still lose the election if they fall short in electoral votes, as happened in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost to Trump in the electoral college, 306 to 227.
The decentralised nature of US elections, managed independently by each state, adds another layer of complexity. There is no single national election commission, and the Federal Election Commission oversees only campaign finance. States follow varying schedules for closing polls and counting absentee ballots, leading to delays in the official count.
Typically, early indicators of voting trends may be reported by media outlets around 9pm ET, about an hour after polls close in Pennsylvania. However, final outcomes will likely be delayed in several states due to legal reviews and recounts. Each state’s governor must submit official electoral vote tallies, known as “Certificates of Ascertainment,” by December 11 to the National Archivist. The electoral college is scheduled to formally meet on December 17, with electors voting in their state capitals.
If either candidate can secure substantial leads in key states, the results could be clear by midnight ET. But if the race is close, the official result could remain uncertain for days, leaving the nation and the world in suspense.
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