With Americans heading to the polls today, November 5, 2024, in what is shaping up as one of the fiercest and most closely monitored elections in recent history, former President Donald Trump pursues his reelection bid against Vice President Kamala Harris. During these last hours of voting, the latest polls and updates give important insight into who might emerge victorious in this high-stakes battle for the White House.
Latest updates of polls: Neck-and-neck race
In a live report from Al Jazeera, the most recent polls had shown that Trump and Harris were in for a close fight as Election Day voting sets to begin. It would be a neck-and-neck race where neither has an obvious and convincing lead; hence, every vote will matter. But in the last hour, Trump has taken a lead according to the latest tally and polls.
Key states to watch
Polls in pivotal battleground states will make the difference in determining the outcome of the election. The Guardian reports that states like Georgia, which closes its polls at 7 PM ET, will be among the first to provide early indicators of the election results. On the contrary, Hawaii and Alaska will be collecting ballots until midnight ET, which might mean that final results could probably not be known until late into the night or even the following morning.
Public mood and sentiment
Public sentiment and mixed feelings have marked the election. The BBC reports that American voters go to the ballot with a mixture of eagerness and trepidation. While in other elections, it is apparent that at times, the result can be known in hours, but given the perceived closeness of the race and the intricacies associated with this election, it is not known when the absolute winner will be known.
Final push from candidates
Kamala Harris
With Election Day mere hours away, Vice President Kamala Harris has been vigorously campaigning. The Guardian reports that Harris concluded her campaign with a promise to “get to work” and to be “president for all.” Her message of unity and progress was intended to galvanize her base and reach out to undecided voters.
Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump-a campaign that has been built on scorching rhetoric and a zealous endorsement from his base-filed the-token closing argument in Michigan. According to The Guardian, Trump utilized the rally to mount sharp attacks against Harris while celebrating a couple of high-profile endorsements, including podcaster Joe Rogan. His campaign has tried to knit together themes of economic revival combined with national security and conservative values.
Historical context and comparisons
A reflection of the 2020 election, where it took four days before Joe Biden was declared a winner, puts into perspective at least a timeline on the likely results this year. As The Conversation noted, the complexities of mail-in ballots, early voting, and court challenges greatly delay the time it takes for a final outcome.
Poll closures and result times
Polls close at different times across the country. Some of the earliest closings come in states such as Georgia at 7 PM ET, while the latest takes place in Hawaii and Alaska at 12 AM ET. Due to these staggered state closures, initial results will begin trickling in throughout the evening hours but for the most part, may not be completely clear until much later.
Expert opinions and forecasts
Well-known statistician Nate Silver has also created projections based on polling data and statistical models. Since the recent sources do not provide specifics about his projection, history might indicate that his work will be scrutinized closely by pundits and political analysts alike. The Guardian reports that this could create a very valid projection of which candidate is likely to snatch victory.
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