As polls open, Trump and Harris are neck and neck in one of the closest U.S. presidential races in recent history. Follow our live updates for real-time election coverage, exit polls, and key insights.
In the 2024 presidential race, Americans are voting to decide between Republican former President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Polls indicate a tight contest both nationally and in crucial swing states, with experts forecasting one of the closest elections in U.S. history.
By Monday morning, over 78 million Americans had participated in early voting, according to data from the Election Lab at the University of Florida. On their final full day of campaigning, Harris and Trump made last-minute efforts in key battleground states, presenting voters with starkly contrasting visions for the country’s future.
Harris entered the race later than others, securing the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden withdrew his campaign in July. This decision followed a challenging debate against Trump where Biden seemed confused and had difficulty completing sentences.
In the United States, presidential elections are determined by the Electoral College system. This means a candidate can become president without winning the popular vote nationwide if they secure enough electoral votes. To win, either Trump or Harris needs to obtain at least 270 of the total 538 Electoral College votes. Each state is assigned a specific number of these votes based on its population size.
November 5, 2024
At 15:02 GMT, Donald Trump advised his supporters via a post on Truth Social that “lines are going to be long,” encouraging them to “cast your vote no matter how much time it takes.”
Pro-Trump analysts and commentators have noted a significant voter turnout in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, with lines outside polling stations predominantly filled with male and rural voters, who are believed to support Trump.
14:48 GMT – RealClearPolitics forecasts that Donald Trump will win against Kamala Harris with 287 Electoral College votes to her 251. In their final projection, which does not include any toss-up states, the news site’s map indicates that Trump is expected to secure victories in crucial swing states such as Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. However, it shows him losing Michigan and Wisconsin to Harris.
RealClearPolitics has been maintaining an ongoing average of various polls throughout the 2024 campaign. For over two weeks, this average indicates that Trump and Harris are separated by less than one point on a national level.
At 14:31 GMT, J.D. Vance, the running mate of Donald Trump, voted in Cincinnati, Ohio. After casting his vote, Vance told reporters with a hint of optimism that “you never know until you know,” but he feels confident about this race.
Ohio’s 17 Electoral College votes were awarded to Trump in the 2020 election, where he defeated Biden with a margin of 53.3% to 45.2%. This year, polls indicate that Trump is leading Kamala Harris by a comparable margin in the state.
14:23 GMT Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Michael Whatley has alleged on social media that Republican observers were denied entry to polling stations in eight counties across Pennsylvania. In response, the GOP deployed “roving attorneys” who succeeded in gaining access for their poll-watchers.
“Consider this a warning to anyone considering disrupting the free, fair, and transparent election process today: WE ARE WATCHING and prepared to take action,” stated RNC co-chair Lara Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law.
14:11 GMT A bipartisan group of 51 US attorneys general has issued a statement urging a peaceful transition of power, irrespective of the election’s outcome.
“We urge every American to vote, engage in civil dialogue, and most importantly, uphold the integrity of the democratic process. After this election, let us unite not divided by results but brought together by our common dedication to the rule of law and the safety of all Americans. There is no room for violence in democracy; we will use our power to enforce laws against any illegal actions that jeopardize it,” stated the message.
Dr. Philani Mthembu, Executive Director at the South African Institute for Global Dialogue, has stated to RT that the 2024 US presidential election is expected to be closely contested. He noted that if Kamala Harris wins, she would likely maintain Joe Biden’s current policies; however, a victory by Donald Trump could introduce significantly more uncertainty. “Regarding international relations,” he remarked, “there would be considerable differences between a Trump administration and one led by Harris.”
Polling stations are now open across much of the U.S., with notable swing states like Wisconsin and Iowa beginning at 8:00 am Eastern Time (ET). Several locations, including key battlegrounds such as New Hampshire, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio opened even earlier. In Nevada, most polls commence operations at 10:00 am ET.
The University of Florida reports that up to 83 million Americans cast their votes early, including 45 million who voted in person and slightly less than 38 million who mailed their ballots. In 2022, the United States had approximately 161 million registered voters.
At 13:24 GMT, a video has surfaced on social media showing Kamala Harris requesting voters in the key swing state of Pennsylvania to participate in a ‘door knock’ video. The clip captures the Democrat speaking with a couple in Pittsburgh and asking them if they would go inside their house for this project. Although the family willingly complied, the footage sparked considerable controversy online, especially among Trump supporters.
At 12:53 GMT, various media outlets reported that Kamala Harris’s ancestral village in India is hoping for her success in the US presidential election. As per AP, a temple located in Thulasendrapuram, southern India was filled with chants of Sanskrit and Tamil hymns as a priestess lit a lamp before a Hindu deity.
The small village rose to international fame after Harris assumed the role of vice president in the Biden administration, an event marked by a community festival. Harris has ties to the village through her maternal grandfather, who was born there over a century ago.
At 09:39 GMT, the initial results of the 2024 US presidential race were reported. In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire—a small town with only six registered voters—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are currently tied. Each candidate secured three votes in a locale famous for its distinctive tradition where all residents cast their ballots right after polls open at midnight on election day.
