The 2024 US presidential election is now underway, with more than 78 million Americans already casting early ballots. Over 186 million voters are expected to participate, marking what many consider one of the most pivotal elections in recent history. Voting officially kicked off in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, where heightened security accompanied the traditional first ballots. In an unusual twist, the town recorded a tie, with both Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Donald Trump each receiving three votes.
Millions across the nation have already voted by mail or at polling stations, underscoring the high stakes of this election, where key swing states are expected to play a decisive role. Trump, joined by his running mate JD Vance, faces a tight contest against Vice President Kamala Harris, who has emerged as his leading Democratic opponent.
Kamala Harris' potential win in the US presidential race could have significant implications for India. Her Indian heritage and favorable foreign policy stance may foster a stronger bilateral relationship, enhancing diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations.
If elected, Harris is expected to continue the trade policies initiated by the Biden administration, focusing on economic resilience and domestic manufacturing, which aligns with India’s strategic interests. Her administration may also reinforce cooperation in areas like defense, climate change, and health, while maintaining a firm stance on global issues such as the conflict in Ukraine.
However, her approach may differ from Biden's in certain areas, particularly regarding her past reservations about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, such as the revocation of Article 370. Overall, Harris' presidency could signify a promising chapter in US-India relations, marked by shared values and strategic alignment.
Economy: Harris aims to reduce taxes for working- and middle-class Americans and enforce a federal ban on grocery price gouging. Trump advocates for cutting government spending, strengthening tariffs, and expanding the trade war with China as part of his nationalistic economic vision.
Immigration: Harris supports comprehensive immigration reform, endorsing increased border security and legal immigration. Republicans argue the immigration system is “broken.” Trump proposes deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, deploying troops to the Mexican border, and ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents.
Abortion Rights: Harris opposes a national abortion ban and wants to protect reproductive rights. Trump views abortion as a state-level matter, indicating he wouldn’t sign a national ban but hasn’t committed to clear federal restrictions.
Foreign Policy: On the Israel-Gaza conflict, Harris supports Israel’s right to self-defense and the Biden administration's Ukraine policy. She also backs Taiwan’s defense autonomy against China. Trump, critical of Biden’s Ukraine policy, favors ending the war in Ukraine and Gaza. He supports Israel and aims for U.S. strategic independence from China, seeking a balanced relationship with Beijing.
It’s just past 5 AM (10:30 AM IST) on the East Coast, which is when polls are scheduled to open in Vermont.
Polls first opened in the tiny New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch right after Monday midnight Eastern time (05:00 AM IST).
Next, we’ll see polls open in New York and Virginia. Other polling sites will open as morning breaks across the six time zones that cover the 50 US states.
Oregon is home to one of the most competitive U.S. House races in the country, with the state's GOP-held 5th Congressional District among the fewer than 30 seats nationwide considered toss-ups. While the races in Oregon's 4th and 6th districts are less competitive, they will still draw significant attention as both parties vie for control of Congress. In all three contests, freshman female lawmakers are running for re-election.
New York’s 2024 presidential ballot is drawing attention for its diverse language options. In a city where over 200 languages are spoken, one Indian language has made the cut — but it’s not the one most might expect. Bengali is the only Indian language included on the ballot, alongside other widely spoken languages in both New York and around the world.
Election Day 2024 arrived on Tuesday, with tens of millions of Americans having already cast their ballots. This includes record-breaking early turnout in key battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina, where the outcome could ultimately determine the winner. In Georgia, a state that has swung between Republican and Democratic candidates in the past two elections, early voting has been so strong—surpassing 4 million ballots—that a top official from the secretary of state's office suggested the polls on Election Day itself might feel like a “ghost town” due to the high volume of early voters.
The race has been tightly contested, with both sides eyeing a crucial win in Pennsylvania, the key battleground state in the Electoral College. A victory in Pennsylvania could be the tipping point for either candidate's path to the White House.
In Maryland's most closely watched US House race, voters will decide on Tuesday whether the 6th Congressional District, long represented by Democrats, will shift to Republican control. Democrat April McClain Delaney, whose husband previously held the seat, is running against conservative Republican Neil Parrott, a former Maryland state lawmaker. Covering both rural western Maryland and more affluent, liberal suburbs of Washington, D.C., the candidates are seeking to portray each other as extreme and disconnected from the district's diverse needs.
As of Sunday, over 82 million Americans have already voted, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab, which monitors early and mail-in voting nationwide.
Kamala Harris wrapped up her 2024 U.S. election campaign in Philadelphia with a high-profile event at the iconic "Rocky steps" of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, famously featured in the movie Rocky. Surrounded by A-list celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, who rallied the crowd before her speech, Harris embraced her role as the underdog. Drawing a parallel to the movie's hero, she declared herself ready to "climb to victory," echoing Rocky's determination and resilience.
The official U.S. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polling hours vary by state, typically running from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time. In Indian Standard Time (IST), this means polling will begin around 4:30 PM IST on November 5 and continue until approximately 6:30 AM IST on November 6. For viewers in India, voting will begin in the early evening and continue through the night, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to watch the process unfold as votes are cast.
The official U.S. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polling hours vary by state, typically running from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time. In Indian Standard Time (IST), this means polling will begin around 4:30 PM IST on November 5 and continue until approximately 6:30 AM IST on November 6. For viewers in India, voting will begin in the early evening and continue through the night, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to watch the process unfold as votes are cast.
At a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Parliament House, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for revitalizing the QUAD alliance in 2017, calling it a key turning point in strengthening Indo-Pacific cooperation.
"We have seen steady progress in our relationship with the US over the last five presidencies, including a previous Trump presidency," Jaishankar said in response to a question on how India-US ties may evolve after the elections. "So, when we look at the American election, we are confident that, regardless of the outcome, our relationship with the US will continue to grow," he added.
In a heartfelt campaign video narrated by actress Viola Davis, Kamala Harris reflected on her mother’s journey as an immigrant and its influence on her leadership. The 90-second clip, shared on social media, highlighted her mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who emigrated from India at 19. "It is thanks to her that I am ready to lead us forward," Harris said. She continues to campaign in Pennsylvania as the race against Donald Trump heats up.
As early voting data rolls in, the Trump campaign has pointed to a “massive turnout deficit” among Democratic voters. In a confidential memo, the campaign's chief data consultant, Tim Saler, claimed Democrats are experiencing lower turnout rates in urban areas. Former President Barack Obama's ex-campaign manager, Jim Messina, expressed concern on MSNBC, calling the early voting numbers “a little scary.”
A security fence now surrounds a building in Las Vegas where votes are being counted in Nevada, a state critical to the presidential race. In Arizona, the sheriff has placed his department on high alert, with drones and snipers ready to respond to any potential threats. Meanwhile, the National Guard has been or will be deployed in 19 states to ensure peace and order during the election process.
As Americans head to the polls on Tuesday to choose between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, fears of political violence have led officials to implement a range of security measures before, during, and after Election Day. These heightened precautions are particularly evident in swing states, like Nevada, where protests erupted among Trump supporters following the 2020 election.
At Harris's final rally in Philadelphia, supporters expressed both enthusiasm for her campaign and concern over a potential Trump comeback. A community organizer voiced cautious optimism, while a long line of attendees gathered outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, eager to hear Harris speak just hours before the polls open on Tuesday.
Kamala Harris will spend Monday campaigning in Pennsylvania, which holds 19 crucial electoral votes. Meanwhile, Donald Trump hosted four rallies across three states, beginning in Raleigh, North Carolina, followed by stops in Reading and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and concluding in Michigan.
#watch | USA: Security heightened in front of the Philly Art Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ahead of the rally of US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the US Presidential Election 2024 scheduled to take place on November 5.
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2024
The elected US President will… pic.twitter.com/ZIdAGCSOFc
As American voters head to the polls on November 5 to choose their next president, this year's tight race could lead to a longer wait for results. While past elections have often seen a victor declared within hours of polls closing, the close contests in several key states this time may delay projections, with media outlets likely holding off on announcing a winner until the results are clearer.
More than three dozen Indian Americans are vying for local and state offices across the U.S. California leads with the highest number of Indian American candidates, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Dr. Ami Bera, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother is of Indian descent.
At a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump asked attendees if they were better off than they were four years ago. He criticized the past administration, calling the last four years a time of failures, betrayals, and humiliations for the American people.
Voter participation in the last two presidential elections has reached levels not seen in over a century, highlighting the intense passion both parties have for the race—particularly with Donald Trump at the helm. More than 78 million voters have already cast their ballots in early voting, but the final two days will be crucial in determining which campaign—Harris’ or Trump’s—can better mobilize its supporters to the polls. Both campaigns are making a last-minute push with ads flooding TV, radio, and online platforms. Harris' team is confident that its extensive voter mobilization efforts, including hundreds of thousands of door knocks in battleground states, will make the difference.
With just one day to go before the election, polls show a near-even race for the White House, with all seven key swing states in a statistical deadlock, making the outcome highly unpredictable. Vice President Kamala Harris holds a slight lead over former President Donald Trump in several new national surveys released on Sunday and Monday, but other polls show the contest in a dead heat.
The HarrisX/Forbes poll, conducted Wednesday through Friday, shows Harris with a narrow 49%–48% lead over Trump among likely voters, within the poll’s one-point margin of error. In a recent PBS News/NPR/Marist poll, Harris leads by four points (51%-47%), while a Morning Consult survey shows her up by two points (49%-47%), also within a one-point margin of error.
An ABC/Ipsos poll has Harris ahead by three points (49%-46%), down slightly from 51%-47% last week and 50%-48% in early October.
Meanwhile, in two separate surveys released on Sunday by NBC News and Emerson College, Harris and Trump are tied at 49%, and a Yahoo News/YouGov poll also finds the race at a standstill with both candidates at 47%.
Here’s what to know about this key swing state:
A report by Barclays suggests that a victory for Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential elections could lead to a stronger US dollar. The report highlights that previous elections, including in 2019, also linked a potential Trump win with expectations of dollar strength.
The report states, "One key difference this time compared with 2019 is that a potential Trump victory would likely imply a stronger USD. This would likely complicate the policy calculus for some—but, importantly, not all—central banks in Emerging Asia."
This anticipated strength in the dollar may impact monetary policy strategies for certain central banks, particularly in emerging markets throughout Asia.
(ANI)
The Republican candidate has concluded his speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, after addressing the crowd for nearly an hour and a half. His next rally is set to take place in Reading, Pennsylvania.
According to a tally by the Election Lab at the University of Florida, 78,185,854 votes have been counted. This number accounts for nearly half of the total votes cast in the 2020 presidential election.
Results are anticipated to begin arriving shortly after the first polls close, though the speed of vote counting will vary by state. As polls close several hours later in western states, their initial results will be released later—potentially after some eastern states have already declared a winner for either Harris or Trump. Given the close nature of the race, counting may extend well beyond election night, and it could take several days to determine the final outcome.
To vote, individuals must meet several fundamental eligibility criteria: they must be a US citizen, a resident of the state where they are registered to vote, and at least 18 years old. Additionally, voter eligibility can differ from state to state, especially regarding the impact of criminal convictions.