Washington: The U.S. presidential election has reached a crucial point. Voting has officially ended in certain states and is in its final hours in others. Across the country, millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in a closely watched and highly anticipated contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
This election cycle, featuring the Democratic leader and her Republican opponent, has been marked by an unprecedented mix of drama, tragedy, political comebacks, and intense rhetoric, creating a contest that many consider one of the most historically tight races for the White House.
The final outcome of this election will likely be determined by just a few critical battleground states, often referred to as swing states, which hold the power to sway the election. Among these pivotal states are Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
For weeks, polls have shown the race locked in a statistical dead heat. However, some election forecasters have indicated that 60-year-old Kamala Harris may have a slight edge over the 78-year-old Donald Trump in certain key battlegrounds, particularly in Pennsylvania, where each candidate has spent considerable time and resources trying to sway voters.
The United States is composed of 50 states, the majority of which tend to support the same political party in every election. However, the swing states differ in that they can shift between parties and are therefore seen as decisive in the outcome. Each state is assigned a specific number of electoral college votes based on its population, which adds to the unique role these states play in the overall election result.
In total, there are 538 electoral college votes, and the candidate who secures 270 or more of these votes is declared the winner of the election.
In addition to the presidential race, control of both chambers of Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—is also at stake in this election. The outcome will play a critical role in determining which party can advance its legislative priorities over the next two years, impacting key areas of national policy.
Before today’s election, Democrats held the Senate majority, while Republicans controlled the House. The results of these congressional races could significantly influence the direction of the country, adding yet another layer of importance to this already highly consequential election.
