Early voting results indicate that the contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the presidency is exceedingly close.
As anticipated, Trump has secured victories in his home state of Florida and other conservative strongholds nationwide, while Kamala Harris is performing well in liberal strongholds along the East Coast, according to projections from CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
However, there remains no definitive frontrunner in the seven pivotal swing states that will ultimately determine the victor of the White House.
Exit polls reveal that voters prioritize the state of democracy and the economy as their primary concerns.
Regardless of the outcome, this election will be historic, potentially resulting in the election of America’s first female president or a significant political resurgence for Trump.
High voter turnout is expected, but if the results remain as close as indicated by polls, the final outcome may not be known for several days.
The incoming president may face challenges from Congress, which is also being contested in Tuesday’s elections.
Currently, Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, while Republicans have a narrow lead in the House of Representatives.
On Tuesday night, Republicans made progress toward regaining control of the Senate by capturing a seat in West Virginia from the Democrats.
However, neither party appears to have a clear advantage in the House.
Polls have now closed in Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—three of the seven swing states anticipated to influence the election’s outcome.
The remaining swing states are Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger noted that, under new state law, early voting results in Georgia must be publicly reported one hour after the polls close.
“You’ll get a lot of results really quick,” he said.
Approximately 86 million voters participated in early voting during one of the most tumultuous election campaigns in recent American history.
Vice President Harris, aged 60, was selected as the Democratic Party’s candidate in July, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race due to internal party pressures.
Former President Trump, aged 78, faced two assassination attempts, narrowly escaping a sniper’s shot in Pennsylvania.
He expressed a sense of “great confidence” while casting his vote earlier that day in Palm Beach, Florida, accompanied by his wife, Melania.
“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’m going to be the first one to acknowledge it,” he said.
He previously shared a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, indicating that “law enforcement is coming” to Philadelphia due to claims of “massive cheating.”
The Philadelphia police department informed BBC Verify that they were not aware of any instances of electoral fraud.
The city’s chief prosecutor stated that the allegation lacks “any factual basis whatsoever.”
Both parties have assembled teams of lawyers prepared for potential legal disputes on and after election day.
Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally and a significant donor to Trump, is spending election night with the Republican nominee at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Harris, who cast her vote early by mail in California, is scheduled to later speak to students at Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C., where she completed her undergraduate studies.
“To go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater, and be able to hopefully recognise this day for what it is is really full circle for me,” Harris said on a radio interview earlier.
If she emerges victorious, she would make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South-Asian American to attain the presidency.
Trump would achieve the distinction of being the first president in over 130 years to secure non-consecutive terms.
Additionally, he holds the unique record of being the only president to have been impeached twice and the first former president to face criminal conviction.
Exit polling conducted by CBS indicates that approximately one-third of voters identified the state of democracy as their primary concern among the five options presented.
The economy was the second most significant issue, with 30% of voters selecting it based on preliminary data.
Abortion and immigration were next on the list, while foreign policy was considered the least critical issue.
In Detroit, Michigan, a voter named Melissa Klein expressed to the BBC her strong concerns regarding women’s rights, stating, “This is an immensely significant issue for me. As a nurse specializing in obstetrics, I cannot envision a world where we are unable to provide women with the essential care they require.”
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Nevada, first-time voter Jasmine Perez, aged 26, shared with the Associated Press that she had voted for Trump.
“My support for Donald Trump stems from my Christian beliefs,” Ms. Perez remarked. “I appreciate that he openly advocates for Christianity in America.”
Across the nation, law enforcement agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance in anticipation of possible violence.
On Tuesday, approximately 30 bomb threat hoaxes were reported at election-related sites nationwide, with more than half occurring in Georgia, according to CBS.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@NairobiNews.co.ke
