Polls close in key US battlegrounds as Trump secures early wins

Polls have closed in the U.S. presidential election, including in all seven crucial swing states, as results start to trickle in. With projected wins in North Carolina and Georgia, former President Donald Trump has secured an early lead, but results in several key states are still pending.

The race remains tight in Pennsylvania and Michigan, where high turnout in both early in-person and mail-in voting broke records. Results in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada could take several days to finalize, as officials work through substantial backlogs of ballots requiring verification.

A close margin in Pennsylvania, with a projected win within half a percentage point, could trigger an automatic recount. In 2020, Pennsylvania was pivotal in deciding the election, with networks calling it four days after election day.

Legal challenges loom over the election, with more than 100 pre-election lawsuits filed, predominantly from Republicans contesting voter eligibility and ballot processing. Counting procedures also face scrutiny, as election officials unfold and inspect ballots individually, documenting any irregularities. Despite these measures, counting has accelerated in some areas, including Michigan, where fewer mail-in ballots were cast than during the pandemic election of 2020.

Past elections highlight the uncertainty in tight races. In 2000, the Supreme Court’s intervention ended a lengthy recount in Florida, while in 2020, Joe Biden’s victory was confirmed days after election night. Electoral reforms enacted since then have made it harder for lawmakers to contest certified results, with the vice president’s role in certifying the electoral count explicitly limited.

Should there be a tie, the House of Representatives would vote for the president, while the Senate would choose the vice president—a scenario that hasn’t occurred in two centuries.

The president-elect is set to be sworn in on January 20, 2025, marking the 60th U.S. presidential inauguration. As election results unfold, both campaigns brace for potential recounts and legal wrangling that could delay a final declaration of victory.

[Information sourced from BBC]