Americans hit the polls as voting begins

As Election Day approaches, a tumultuous presidential campaign marked by a felony trial, an incumbent president exiting the race, and multiple assassination attempts culminates in a final sprint across critical battleground states. Kamala Harris, the vice president and Democratic nominee, is focusing her efforts on Pennsylvania, which boasts the largest electoral prize with its 19 votes. On Monday, she will visit working-class regions, including Allentown, and cap off her day with a late-night rally in Philadelphia featuring Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, has scheduled four rallies in three states, starting in Raleigh, North Carolina, and making two stops in Pennsylvania in Reading and Pittsburgh—both of which Harris is also visiting. He concludes his campaign with a late-night event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

At Trump’s kickoff rally in Raleigh, the J.S. Dorton Arena, which seats 5,000, had noticeable empty seats. Attendee Ebony Coots, a 48-year-old delivery driver who previously voted for Hillary Clinton, now backs Trump but expressed anxiety over Tuesday’s election. “You know, actually, I might try to go to another planet,” she joked, referencing her apprehension about a potential Harris victory.

With approximately 77 million Americans having already cast their votes, the stakes are high. A Trump win would make him the first president to enter office after being indicted and convicted of a felony, following his hush-money trial in New York. Additionally, he would become the second president in history to serve non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland. On the other hand, Harris aims to make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to occupy the Oval Office. She ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Biden’s poor performance in a June debate led to his withdrawal from the race, adding to the tumultuous nature of this year’s campaign.

Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, stands on the brink of becoming the first female president in the United States’ 248-year history. Her win would also mark the first time a Black woman and a person of South Asian heritage has held the highest office.

While Harris and her campaign have been cautious about emphasizing her gender and racial background to avoid alienating some supporters, historians recognize the profound impact her victory would have. As noted by PTI, such a milestone would resonate deeply in American history.

In contrast, a win for Donald Trump would also be unprecedented, marking him as the first U.S. president-elect with a felony conviction. Just five months ago, he faced 34 felony charges in a New York hush-money case, a history-making background for a presidential candidate.

Race for the White House Comes Down to the Wire as U.S. Presidential Election Nears

The United States is on the brink of its next presidential election on November 5 (local time), with a tight race between Republican former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who could make history as the first woman elected to the White House.

More than 160 million voters are expected to cast ballots, with polls showing Trump, 78, and Harris, 60, locked in a dead heat. Over 75 million voters have already participated in early voting, yet neither candidate holds a clear lead to secure the necessary 270 electoral votes.

President Joe Biden, who initially sought re-election, withdrew from the race in July following a televised debate with Trump. Harris then stepped up as the Democratic candidate, and she is set to campaign in key swing locations like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on Monday.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign took a dramatic turn after he survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, with images of him defiantly raising his fist and calling on supporters to “Fight” quickly going viral. Trump’s strategy hinges on economic concerns and inflation as pivotal issues that could drive him back to the White House.

(With ANI inputs)

Kamala Harris sought to address the concerns of voters upset by the Gaza war, while Donald Trump intensified his aggressive rhetoric, making a controversial remark about journalists being shot, as the tense U.S. election campaign neared its conclusion.

With nearly a few hours remaining before polls open on Election Day Tuesday, both the Democratic vice president and the Republican former president rushed through several key swing states in a last-ditch effort to win over undecided voters.

The upcoming elections on November 5 will be heavily influenced by seven key states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Republican Nikki Haley, who previously competed against Donald Trump for the party’s presidential nomination, has thrown her support behind the former President. In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, she stated that Trump is a “far better choice” than Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

Haley acknowledged her differences with Trump, saying, “I don’t agree with Trump 100% of the time. But I do agree with him most of the time, and I disagree with Harris nearly all the time. That makes this an easy call.”

A potential victory for Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential elections could lead to a stronger US dollar, according to a report by Barclays. The analysis highlighted that previous elections, like in 2019, also associated a possible Trump win with expectations of a stronger dollar. However, the report notes a significant difference this time: a Trump victory would likely result in a stronger USD, complicating the policy decisions for some, though not all, central banks in Emerging Asia.

As the last full day of campaigning unfolds on Monday, the 2024 U.S. presidential election, featuring Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, is unlike any other in American history. Both candidates and their campaigns are working tirelessly to mobilize supporters, framing this election as a critical juncture for the nation.

A Divided Electorate

Despite the whirlwind of events in recent months, the electorate remains sharply divided, both nationally and within the seven key battleground states that will likely determine the election’s outcome. The tightness of the race suggests that it may take several days to declare a definitive winner.

In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has overtaken Republican Donald Trump in a new poll conducted in Iowa. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, released on Saturday, indicates that likely women voters played a crucial role in this shift, marking a significant change in a state Trump previously dominated in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

Exit polls, used to assess voter sentiment and forecast election results, will commence at 5 PM EST, which is equivalent to 2:30 AM IST on November 6.

Election Day is set to conclude on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polling hours differ by state, usually ranging from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time. As per India time, polling will begin around 4:30 PM IST on November 5 and will run until 6:30 AM IST on November 6.

You must have come across the terms ‘swing state’ and ‘battleground state’ but do you know what these mean and why it’s important? While there are 50 states in the US, most consistently support one party, leaving only a few states where both candidates have a realistic chance of winning. These crucial areas are known as battleground or swing states, as they ultimately determine the election‘s outcome. According to BBC, currently, the leads in these swing states are very narrow, making it difficult to tell who is truly in front based on polling averages.

Polls in US will close on Tuesday evening, but we might not find out who the winner is between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, for several days if the election is close. As Election Day approaches, polls across the country have become tighter, meaning victories could be very close in several areas, potentially leading to recounts. Additionally, some results may be delayed this year because of changes in how states, including all seven key swing states, manage their elections since 2020.

Approximately 77 million Americans have already cast their votes early, but both Harris and Trump are striving to mobilize even more supporters on Tuesday, reported AP. A victory for Trump would mark him as the first incoming president to be indicted and convicted of a felony, stemming from his hush-money trial in New York, and he would gain the authority to terminate other ongoing federal investigations against him. On the other hand, Harris aims to become the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to occupy the Oval Office, following her groundbreaking role as President Biden’s vice president four years ago.

The 2024 Indian-American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) indicates that 61% of Indian Americans favor Kamala Harris, while 31% support Donald Trump. As the election approaches, American voters will play a crucial role in determining the outcome for the presidential candidates, making this election more competitive than ever.

Trump recently sparked controversy during an interview with Tucker Carlson, where he made provocative remarks about former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Trump suggested a violent scenario, saying, “Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. Let’s see how she feels about it when the guns are aimed at her face.” He labeled Cheney a “war hawk” while criticizing her views on military intervention. These comments faced swift condemnation, with Vice President Kamala Harris asserting that they should disqualify Trump from future political office. Additionally, the Arizona attorney general’s office is investigating his statements.

On Monday, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note experienced a significant decline as traders adjusted their positions in anticipation of Tuesday’s presidential election. This shift was influenced by a surprising poll indicating that Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had taken the lead in Iowa. The benchmark 10-year yield fell by 5 basis points to 4.31%, while the two-year Treasury yield decreased by 3 basis points to 4.17%

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Mimi Ramirez-Rodriguez was kidnapped and murdered by an illegal alien—leaving behind a 9 year-old girl. I met her grieving mom Carmen tonight in Georgia. With your vote Tuesday, we will end Kamala’s invasion and we will not allow illegals to spill one more drop of American blood. pic.twitter.com/BEt6r0LvNy

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2024

Former US President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Kinston, North Carolina, took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that she “has no vision, no ideas, and no solutions,” and accusing her of solely blaming him for various issues. He also claimed that, if elected, Harris would open the borders, leading to an influx of migrants, gangs, and criminals into the country.

“Everything Kamala says is a lie–she has no vision, no ideas, and no solutions. All she can say is, ‘Donald Trump did this, Donald Trump did that’,” he added.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris will be joined by Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey at a rally in Pennsylvania, marking the final stretch of the election campaign.

The Philadelphia event will feature performances and speeches from a lineup of artists, including DJ Cassidy, Fat Joe, Freeway, Just Blaze, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ricky Martin, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan, Adam Blackstone, and Oprah Winfrey, according to news agency ANI.

According to a new PTI report, a poll in Iowa shows Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris leading with 47% support, compared to her opponent Donald Trump’s 44%, signaling positive momentum for the Vice President. Trump has quickly dismissed the poll, claiming it is biased in favor of the Democratic Party.

The Electoral College consists of delegates from each state who ultimately select the next US President based on their party affiliation. When Americans cast their votes in the presidential election on November 5, they are actually voting to elect these delegates in their states, who hold the authority to decide the next President.

Every state in the US is allocated a certain number of electoral votes. The Electoral College operates under a winner-takes-all system, meaning that the candidate who receives the majority of the popular vote in a state gets all of that state’s electoral votes. This indirect election process has led to a peculiar scenario where a candidate can win the presidency by accumulating enough electoral votes, even if they do not receive the majority of the popular votes nationwide.

It’s no longer known as Election Day in the US, but more as ‘Election Week.’ This shift occurs because each state has its own rules and processes for counting ballots, and legal challenges can further delay the announcement of results. Consequently, there is significant uncertainty regarding how long it will take to declare a winner in this election. The timeline for determining the outcome remains unpredictable.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, will be holding rival rallies in Pennsylvania, the key swing state, today. Harris plans to spend the entire day in Pennsylvania, which has the most significant electoral votes —19— critical for shaping the outcome of the Electoral College, as reported by the Associated Press. She will visit working-class neighborhoods, including Allentown, and will wrap up her day with a late-night rally in Philadelphia featuring performances by Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris spoke to parishioners at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit, urging the importance of action over mere words. She emphasized that it’s not enough to just pray or talk; and that they must actively work to influence the future of the nation.

Republican Donald Trump is set to hold four rallies across three states on Monday, according to the Associated Press. The tour will kick off in Raleigh, North Carolina, before making two stops in Pennsylvania, with events planned in Reading and Pittsburgh. Trump will conclude his campaign with a late-night rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, mirroring the finale of his previous two campaigns.

The two candidates share almost no common ground, a contrast evident during their only televised debate on September 10. Harris vowed to restore abortion rights and implement tax breaks to support small businesses and families, declaring her intention to “be a president for all Americans.” In response, Trump claimed credit for appointing the justices responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade, promised to bolster the U.S. economy through tariffs, and made unfounded allegations about migrants eating pets. He labeled Harris “the worst vice president in the history of our country.” Despite Trump’s assertions of victory, many observers felt Harris emerged stronger from the debate, while he declined to participate in a second one. The race remained remarkably tight.

At his final election rally in Georgia on Sunday, Trump revealed his intention to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — a law that has historically been used to intern Japanese, Italian, and German Americans during World War II. He also pledged to seek the death penalty for undocumented immigrants who commit murder against Americans.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who was among the Republican candidates defeated by Donald Trump in the presidential primaries, has endorsed the former president, stating he is a “far better choice” than Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal, she acknowledged, that she doesn’t agree with Trump all the time but she does align with him most of the time. However, Haley said that she finds herself disagreeing with Harris nearly all the time, and that makes the decision straightforward.