Polls Open for the 2024 U.S. Election Day as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Compete

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As Tuesday arrives, the intense campaign season culminates with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican challenger Donald Trump traveling across the country to secure voter support. Recent polls indicate a remarkably close race, with neither candidate holding a clear advantage heading into Election Day.

The election outcome will significantly shape US politics and policy for the next four years, and it carries historic implications: voters will choose between either the first female president in Harris or the first convicted felon in Trump.

In their final campaign push, both candidates present starkly contrasting visions for the nation's future, focusing on key issues such as the economy, immigration, women's rights, and democracy. Harris aims to "turn the page" on what she describes as Trump's divisive politics, positioning herself as a leader of a "new generation" dedicated to bolstering the middle class, safeguarding women's rights, and upholding the integrity of US institutions.

Conversely, Trump seeks to restore a "golden age" for the US by proposing a rollback of economic regulations, a display of American strength on the global stage, and a strict approach to immigration, often echoing racially charged rhetoric.

Despite their differing platforms, both candidates emphasize the critical nature of this election. Trump has labeled it "the most important" in US history, while Harris calls it the "most consequential" of voters’ lifetimes. In the final hours before Election Day, both candidates intensify their campaigns in key battleground states.

Trump concluded his rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, stating, “With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America – indeed, the world – to new heights of glory.” Meanwhile, Harris expressed confidence in her campaign's momentum during her final appearance in Philadelphia, asserting, “We must finish strong. Make no mistake, we will win.”

Record Early Voting As Election Day approaches, it marks the end of weeks of early voting in many locations, with some states starting as early as September. Nearly 81 million voters have already cast their ballots, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, accounting for over half of the total votes cast in the 2020 presidential election and indicating record early turnout in several areas.

Voting began with the first polling site opening just after midnight on Tuesday in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch, followed by others starting at 5 a.m. ET in Vermont. Polling places across the six time zones of the US will open throughout the morning.

Once polls close in the evening, results may take hours or even days to be finalized, as states cannot start reporting vote counts until polling ends. Initial results are expected around 6 p.m. ET when polls close in states like Indiana and Kentucky, with the final polls closing in Alaska and Hawaii around midnight ET.

Attention will focus on seven key battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, and North Carolina—that are likely to determine the election outcome. The US presidential election operates not on the popular vote but through a weighted Electoral College system, where each state has a designated number of electoral votes based on its congressional representation. A candidate needs to secure a minimum of 270 electoral votes out of 538 to win the presidency.