Ticker for the US election campaign Close race - statistics guru simulates election 80,000 times +++ Another candidacy in 2028? Trump "will not go"

On November 5, 2024, the President, the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will be re-elected in the USA. The ticker informs you about all the important developments.

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4.21 pm

Attorneys general call for "peaceful transition of power"

A bipartisan coalition of 51 US state attorneys general has issued a call to remain peaceful on US Election Day. The attorneys general condemned "any acts of violence related to the results".

"We will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it," the statement said.

4:04 p.m.

JD Vance casts his vote in Ohio: 'Got a good feeling'

Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance casts his vote in person at his polling place in Cincinnati. He was accompanied by his wife Usha and their children to St. Anthony of Padua Church.

He was grateful to those who had come to see "one of the great traditions of American democracy", he told reporters from CNN and other media outlets. "I feel good, you never know until you know, but I have a good feeling about this race," Vance said.

3:41 p.m.

Extremely close result: statistics guru simulates election 80,000 times

Nate Silver is co-founder of the website FiveThirtyEight and is known for his election predictions.

For his final prediction, he simulated the ballot 80,000 times. The result is astonishingly close: Kamala Harris won 40,012 times and Donald Trump 39,988.

With a result of 50.015 percent, the Democrat beat the Republican, who achieved 49.985 percent.

In other words: the race is extremely close.

3.25 pm

Biden banished to the White House on election day

Outgoing US President Joe Biden will follow the historic election day from the White House. No public appearances by the 81-year-old are planned. Members of his team told the television station CNN that Biden and his wife Jill wanted to watch the election results from their residence in Washington together with long-time employees and senior staff.

This means that Election Day will be very different from what Biden had imagined a few months ago. He had actually wanted to run again himself - but then withdrew under pressure from his own party in favor of his Vice President Kamala Harris.

The day before the election, Biden had already kept a conspicuously low profile. He had previously actively campaigned for Harris - and put her campaign in need of an explanation with a clumsy statement. It was not clear from the recording of a campaign phone call whether Biden referred to Trump's supporters as "trash" - or said this about widespread views on Latinos.

The Trump camp supports the first interpretation, the White House the other. Biden himself claims that he expressed himself unclearly and was misunderstood. In the final spurt of the election campaign, Trump's running mate J.C. Vance clearly insulted Harris as garbage. "We're going to take out the trash in Washington, D.C., and the trash is Kamala Harris," he said.

3:06 p.m.

Running again in 2028? Trump "will not go"

Donald Trump announced in September that he would not run for the White House again in four years' time if he lost the election. But now an ex-Republican of all people is claiming that the New Yorker will not be passing the baton on.

"A lot of people, including Republicans, even maga-Republicans, may say that Donald Trump will go if he loses," David Jolly, who once sat in Congress for the Florida Republicans, tells MSNBC: "He won't go," the former party colleague is certain. "He may go to prison, but I promise them he will consider running in 2028."

Jolly rules out the possibility of the 78-year-old retiring from politics. "If he's not the king in 2028, he's the kingmaker. He'll hold a Republican primary at [his luxury club] Mar-a-Lago [in Florida] to control the process."

He probably wouldn't encounter any resistance: A recent poll says 51 percent of Trump voters would have no problem with it. Only 38 percent think it's not a good idea.

2.29 pm

Trump only "cautiously optimistic"

On the big stage the night before the election, Donald Trump announced that he was already "tens of thousands of votes" ahead of his opponent Kamala Harris. But there is uncertainty behind the scenes, reports CNN.

A close Trump adviser told the broadcaster that he was "cautiously optimistic". However, it now depends on how many Republican voters actually go to the polls and vote. "Only then can we be optimistic," the broadcaster quoted the Trump adviser as saying. "It's close, very very close."

2 p.m.

Election lasts until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning

Because the USA spans several time zones, the opening and closing of polling stations will last several hours. Hawaii and Alaska bring up the rear: here voters can vote until 6 a.m. CET tomorrow, and in the Aloe Islands even an hour longer.

However, many voters have already cast their ballots. Almost 83 million US citizens voted by post or at polling stations open in advance by midday before election day alone, as reported by the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

This corresponds to more than half of the total votes cast in the 2020 presidential election. It could even take several days before a winner is determined due to the time-consuming counting of postal votes - but a run-off on election night is also possible.

1.24 pm

Thousands of voters cast their ballots

Thousands of voters line up outside polling stations early in the morning to cast their votes. For example in Pennsylvania, where the polling stations opened around half an hour ago at 7 a.m. Eastern time (1 p.m. Swiss time). Around 240 million Americans are called upon to cast their ballots by the evening.

1:19 p.m.

Reminder: How the voting system works

12:16 p.m.

Voters in 9 states also vote on abortion

Parallel to the presidential and congressional elections, voters in nine US states will vote on Tuesday on the inclusion of abortion regulations in their respective constitutions.

In Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, bans or restrictions that currently affect more than seven million women of childbearing age could be lifted.

In Colorado, Maryland and Montana, the liberal regulations in force there could be incorporated into the constitutions. In Nevada, a corresponding decision would have to be passed again in two years' time.

In 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion and ruled that this issue must be decided by the individual states. States governed by Republicans then imposed restrictions and bans.

Democratic-governed states cemented liberal regulations. In the seven referendums on abortion regulations since 2022, supporters have always prevailed.

Abortion rights were a major issue in the election campaign and are seen as an important factor in mobilizing voters. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris presented herself as an advocate of freedom of choice for women and blamed her Republican opponent Donald Trump for bans imposed in individual states.

Trump performed an egg dance between the demands of anti-abortion activists in his own voter base and the majority of Americans who support abortion rights.

Currently, abortions are generally banned in 13 states, with minor exceptions. Four other states ban abortions in most cases from about the sixth week of pregnancy - often before women even realize they are pregnant.

Despite these bans, the number of monthly abortions in the US has risen slightly.

12 p.m.

Polling stations open - fateful election underway

The first polling stations opened at 6 a.m. local time, i.e. 12 noon CET: The states of Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia are inviting people to vote. Now it's time for the USA to decide the fate of the world.

11.30 a.m.

Video portrait of the two candidates

11.16 am

When the polling stations open

When do the first polling stations open? The polls open at 6 a.m. local time, i.e. 12 noon CET: the states of Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia invite voters to cast their ballots.

Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia and Vermont will follow half an hour later. At 1 p.m., Alabama, Delaware, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee will vote.

As of 2 p.m., citizens in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin may vote.

10:49 a.m.

Trump: "Fighting against evil Democratic system"

At his last campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, former President Donald Trump once again sharply attacked prominent Democrats such as President Joe Biden and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Trump declared that he was not only running against Vice President Kamala Harris, but "against a vicious Democratic system". He added: "These are evil people."

During his speech, Trump made unsubstantiated claims that Harris only received the nomination because of "political correctness" and mocked her name as "a strange name". Trump went on to explain, "I didn't run against Biden either. He was trapped in the basement. I am now fighting a very evil system, and we must defeat that system to secure America's future."

Trump also called Pelosi a "corrupt" and "evil person," underscoring his harsh rhetoric against leading Democrats just before the election.

10.28 am

Slap in the face from Abba star: song not understood

Björn Ulvaeus doesn't think much of the fact that songs and videos by Swedish cult band Abba were played at US presidential candidate Donald Trump's election rallies. "I don't like that at all!" the 79-year-old told Swedish broadcaster SVT. "We have never allowed our music to be used in a political context. That's terrible," he said.

At the same time, the Swedish musician also considers all of this to be very funny. "'The Winner Takes It All' is about someone who has lost and is a loser," said Ulvaeus, referring to one of Abba's worldwide hits from 1980, which is about a woman who has lost her husband to another woman.

So Trump might not have paid close attention to the lyrics, the Swede speculated with a smile. During the election campaign, Trump had songs and music videos by Abba played several times. The music label Universal and Abba itself demanded months ago that this be stopped immediately.

However, Trump's campaign team stated that they had the right to play Abba music in front of an audience. Ulvaeus questioned this once again on SVT.

10.12 a.m.

One in four Swiss would vote for Trump

A surprising number of people in Switzerland would vote for Donald Trump. This is shown by a new survey. You can read all about it here.

Survey reveals surprising factsOne in four Swiss would vote for Trump

9.41 am

Trump: "November 5th will be a day of liberation"

"Not American enough"Trump wants to deport masses of "illegals" with the 1798 law

9.21 am

Will the "Simpsons prophecy" come true?

The "Simpsons" have a reputation for having predicted one or two changes in world history in the animated series. In 1990, the show correctly predicted that prudish people would be offended by Michelangelo's statue of David, predicted the Barbie hype in 1994 in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" and knew in 2000 that Donald Trump would become president.

In this episode, which is called "Bart To The Future", Lisa Simpson becomes president and says that she has inherited "quite a crisis budget from President Trump". But now this very episode is being used to talk up the Democrat's victory: "The Simpsons predict that Kamala Harris will become president," some fans believe.

"In one episode, Lisa becomes president," summarizes another user, "and she wears mainly purple suits and a pearl necklace - similar to Kamala Harris' outfit at her inauguration as vice president. Coincidence? I don't think so."

.@TheSimpsons “prediction” I’m proud to be a part of. pic.twitter.com/ZvkqotRpsn

— Al Jean (@AlJean) July 21, 2024

Al Jean, one of the show's creators, likes it: he is proud to be part of this "prophecy", the 63-year-old made public on X.

8.36 a.m.

Loud silence: Ivanka Trump conspicuously silent

Some of Donald Trump's children campaigned for the Republican presidential candidate at his final election rally. Trump's sons Eric and Don Jr. and daughter Tiffany took to the stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and were cheered on. Also present were Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump and son-in-law Michael Boulos. Trump's son Barron and his daughter Ivanka were absent.

"And Ivanka is sitting at home watching every second of this," Trump said of his daughter, who had kept a conspicuously low profile during the election campaign. Ivanka Trump worked as a close adviser to her father during Trump's time in the White House. Trump's son Eric said of his 78-year-old father: "I can tell you that as a son, as a family, we have never been so proud of a person in our lives."

This past week, I turned 43!

Reflecting on life’s lessons, here are some truths I’ve learned along the way: pic.twitter.com/vP1zFJ7onX

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) November 4, 2024

Ivanka Trump's posts on X on the eve of the election are a slap in her father's face. In it, she reflects extensively on life after her 43rd birthday and quotes Dolly Parton, Carl Gustav Jung and Marcus Aurelius - but without saying a word about Papa Donald and the upcoming election. She continues to urge her followers to be "open to the truth" - "wherever it leads".

8.05am

Trump: "We want the answer tonight"

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has once again stoked false expectations about the vote count for the US election. "We want the answer tonight," the 78-year-old said at his final rally in Grand Rapids in the particularly hard-fought swing state of Michigan, referring to election night.

It’s almost 2:00AM in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Donald Trump is still on stage going strong. He is putting in the work to earn your vote. What a strong finish to an absolutely iconic campaign. #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/Uy4WfW2YhG

— Rust Media Group (@RustMediaGroup) November 5, 2024

Trump had already raised the mood in recent days with unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud. The Republican is running against Democrat Kamala Harris - it is a close race. It is unlikely that the result of the election will be known within a few hours of the polls closing.

Trump says there’s no empty seats and the cameraman goes rogue

Live fact checks at trump rallies now pic.twitter.com/HA8SUt8b2P

— Jamison Daniel (@AntiquarianMuse) November 3, 2024

Postal votes in particular are delaying the counting process in some states. After the 2020 presidential election, Trump declared himself the winner on election night - and called for a halt to the vote count when he was temporarily ahead of his then challenger Joe Biden.

He still does not recognize his election defeat. There are fears in the US that Trump could now repeat this strategy.

7.12 am

Trump remains true to himself in his last appearance

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hurled insults at his Democratic rival Kamala Harris right at the start of his final campaign rally.

Trump takes the stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan after midnight.
2nd photo is before Trump took the stage - people had been waiting hours pic.twitter.com/AXmJQhxhrr

— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) November 5, 2024

"She's a radical left-wing nut job," said Trump in Grand Rapids in the particularly hard-fought "swing state" of Michigan. Until recently, nobody even knew who the US Vice President was. "But then they wanted to be politically correct. So they chose Kamala and called her Harris, and nobody knew who Harris was."

The entire crowd just informed Trump that it's now officially election day.

Trump: "Assuming we can win tomorrow..."

Crowd: "IT'S TODAY. TODAY. TODAY."

Trump: "Oh, it's today."

This is such a cool moment. pic.twitter.com/hECEECoLhf

— George (@BehizyTweets) November 5, 2024

That's why she would only be referred to by her first name. Trump called Harris "a person with a very low IQ". Trump regularly talks disparagingly about the 60-year-old Democrat. She finished her final rally in Philadelphia in the "swing state" of Pennsylvania a few minutes before Trump began his speech in Michigan.

“All we can do is KEEP WINNING.” — President Trump in Grand Rapids, MI

pic.twitter.com/emuYBC7wcD

— Rhodes Report 🇺🇸🇮🇱 #IFBAP (@RhodesReportHQ) November 5, 2024

She received support from superstars such as Lady Gaga and focused on a positive message. The final rallies are the candidates' last chance to send a message to their voters before the presidency and the future balance of power in the US parliament are decided today.

7:06 a.m.

Latest polls from swing states give Harris encouragement

There have been several bad omens for Donald Trump before the start of today's election day. We are of course talking about the last polls before the ballot. The focus is naturally on the swing states.

Pennsylvania, a must-win swing state with 19 electoral votes, is home to 1.1 million Americans with Latino roots. Kamala Harris is clearly ahead among them: she is reportedly polling at 64%, while only 30% want to vote for Donald Trump.

In the swing state of Nevada, an analyst known for his accurate predictions has predicted a razor-thin victory for Kamala Harris. He sees the Democrat at 48.5 percent and her opponent at 48.3 percent. 3.3 percent will vote for another candidate .

In the state of Iowa, which has voted Republican in the last two polls, Harris is also ahead according to the latest poll. Donald Trump comes in at 3 percent less than her, reaching 44 percent. However, the lead is still within the margin of error.

The data was collected by J. Ann Selzer, who predicted the result relatively accurately in the last elections in Iowa. In a speech afterwards, Trump called Selzer an "enemy" and asked annoyed why her results were published at all.

Reporter: There are many empty seats at one of Trump’s final rallies. I can't tell you exactly why, but in this final week, we have seen far smaller crowds for Trump. For the first time since 2015, we’ve been looking around and questioning why the crowd sizes have been less than… pic.twitter.com/cRCkvgcHoN

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) November 4, 2024

The momentum does not seem to be on Trump's side. In his last election rallies, many seats remained empty, the other side noted with relish. The Harris team is confident ahead of today's election day. The correspondent of the British "Independent", on the other hand, confirms that there is panic among the Republicans and Trump: "He has realized that he could lose."

6.38 am

First village votes - it ends in a draw

Every four years, a village in the US state of New Hampshire has the fun of voting first shortly after midnight - at 6 a.m. CET. The tradition dates back to 1960. However, it is not the case that the result there is indicative of the rest of the country.

This year, however, the result fits the picture: of the six residents, exactly half voted for Kamala Harris and half for Donald Trump. It is the start of a highly exciting election day with implications for the entire world.

6.07 pm

Harris confident of victory in final campaign speech

In a show with numerous star guests at an iconic location, US presidential candidate Kamala Harris appeared confident of victory at the end of her election campaign.

Standing in front of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in swing state Pennsylvania, the setting from the iconic movie "Rocky" about a boxer's rise, Harris said, "It's good to be back in the City of Brotherly Love, where the foundation of our democracy was forged, and here on these famous steps, a tribute to those who start as underdogs and work their way up to victory."

Harris reiterated her pledge to be a president for all Americans. The meticulously choreographed event with guests such as star musician Lady Gaga and TV icon Oprah Winfrey was reminiscent of great American television moments such as the Oscars and Grammy Awards or the Super Bowl halftime show. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators cheered Harris on.

5:58 p.m.

Oprah Winfrey promotes Harris: We vote for healing instead of hate

The well-known US talk show host Oprah Winfrey has urged people to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. "All the fear and anxiety you feel: you feel it because you feel the danger, and you change that with your vote," said the 70-year-old at Harris' final rally in Philadelphia, the largest city in the particularly embattled state of Pennsylvania. "We are voting for healing instead of hate." The decision not to vote is definitely a decision to let other people control your future, Winfrey said. "Every single vote, everyone will matter."

5:56 p.m.

Why a candidate with fewer votes can become president

It has happened a total of five times so far: In the USA, the candidate who has fewer votes overall can also become president. The last time this happened was in 2016: although Democrat Hillary Clinton received over 2.5 million more votes than her rival, the US president became Donald Trump. How can that be?

This is due to the electoral system in the USA: voters cannot vote directly on who will be the next president. This is decided by the Electoral College. This consists of a total of 538 electors from all states. The person who receives at least 270 votes becomes president.

Each state has a certain number of electors depending on its population. In states with a large population, there are more: around 54 electors in California. Where there are not so many people, there are fewer: 3 electors in North Dakota.

The US electoral system has another special feature: In most states, the presidential candidate who secures a majority of the popular vote receives the votes of all electors. Votes for the losing candidate are therefore forfeited.

Here is a scenario for the upcoming election: if the Republican Trump were to win in Florida with just 50.1% of the vote, he would receive the votes of all 30 electors in the state. In this case, opposing candidate Kamala Harris would come away completely empty-handed in the Sunshine State. Americans therefore speak of the "winner takes all" principle.

5.52 pm

JD Vance insults Harris as "garbage"

The Republican candidate for US Vice President, JD Vance, has ended his election campaign with an insult to Trump opponent Kamala Harris. "We're going to take out the trash in Washington D.C., and the trash is called Kamala Harris," Vance said during an appearance in the state of New Hampshire.

Since a comedian's appearance at a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York's Madison Square Garden, the "garbage" rhetoric has persisted in the US election campaign. The comedian had described the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, which belongs to the USA, as an "island of garbage floating in the ocean" - sparking outrage.

Shortly before his comments about Harris, Vance also criticized a statement made by outgoing President Joe Biden. The bone of contention: a campaign phone call between Biden and the Latino community. It is not clear from a recording released afterwards whether Biden referred to Trump's supporters as "garbage" - or the widespread views about Latinos. Since then, the Trump camp has been spreading the former interpretation, the White House the latter. Biden himself claims that he expressed himself unclearly and was misunderstood. Vance has now described the president's remarks as disrespectful.

4.07 a.m.

US secret services: Election meddling remains Russia's target

Ahead of the highly anticipated US election, American intelligence agencies are warning of attempted manipulation of the vote by Russia - also on election day and in the weeks following. "Russia is the most active threat. In particular, Russia-linked influence actors are producing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, scare voters about the electoral process, and suggest that Americans are using violence against each other based on political preferences," several US intelligence agencies said in a joint statement.

It is "expected that these activities will intensify on Election Day and in the coming weeks, and that narratives about foreign influence will focus on swing states", the statement continued. Iran also remains a threat in this context.

In the extremely politically heated climate in the USA, many Americans are worried that there could be riots or other acts of violence on the fringes of the presidential election. The social divide is being exacerbated by fake news, polarizing opinion pieces and inflammatory videos on social media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian groups have been accused for years of using manipulative tactics to influence elections in the USA. There is also a lot at stake for Russia in Tuesday's vote - if Donald Trump wins, Ukraine must fear for the important support of the USA in the war against Russia.

3.36 pm

Podcaster Joe Rogan supports Trump

The popular US podcaster Joe Rogan has spoken out in favor of Donald Trump as the new President of the United States. Rogan, who has a large fan base and one of the most successful podcasts in the country with millions of listeners, had already expressed his sympathy for Trump in the past. Now he openly expressed his support for the Republican in Tuesday's election - while promoting his interview with company boss and Trump supporter Elon Musk via the X platform.

"He (Musk) makes, in my opinion, the most compelling argument for Trump that you'll ever hear, and I agree with him in every way," Rogan said - and then followed up with, "Just to clarify, yes, this is an endorsement of Trump."

Rogan has also attracted attention in the past for spreading misinformation and making racist statements, for which he subsequently apologized. His guests have also included conspiracy theorists. Outside the USA, Rogan is probably best known as a ring commentator for the US combat sports organization UFC. He met with Trump a few days ago for an hour-long conversation. Despite negotiations, an interview with Trump's Democratic opponent Kamala Harris did not take place.

3.15 pm

Trump fantasizes about cage fights against migrants

Donald Trump fantasized about bloody cage fights against migrants during his last campaign appearance in the important swing state of Pennsylvania. Trump told his audience in Pittsburgh that the American mixed martial arts organization UFC should set up a league in which professional fighters fight migrants. "In the end, I want the migrants to fight the champions. And I think the migrants could actually win - that's how nasty some of these guys are," said Trump.

A little later, he assured the crowd he had whipped up that serious crimes committed by migrants would be severely punished in future if his Republicans won the election. "I hereby call for the death penalty for any migrant who kills an American citizen or a police officer," the 78-year-old said to the cheers of numerous supporters. Trump has made the restriction of illegal immigration one of his central themes in the election campaign, repeatedly portraying migrants as enemies of America and using false claims to deliberately stir up sentiment against foreigners.

1.51 pm

Nato chief: "Donald Trump stood and stands behind Nato"

The new Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte says he expects the USA to remain in the defense alliance - regardless of the outcome of the presidential election in the most influential member state. "The USA is behind Nato. Donald Trump was and is behind Nato. Kamala Harris stood and stands behind Nato," said Rutte on ZDF's "Heute Journal".

Both Republicans and Democrats know that Nato not only serves the security of Europe, but also the security of the USA. And a president must ensure that his country is secure, said the NATO chief. Both candidates were aware that their security was closely linked to NATO.

Trump's statements in the past had raised doubts as to whether the USA would fully stand by its commitment to NATO under his leadership. At times, Trump even threatened to withdraw the USA from the alliance.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Rutte took office as NATO Secretary General on October 1 and paid his inaugural visit to Berlin on Monday. He has a reputation for being particularly adept at dealing with Trump and having a comparatively good rapport with him. During a meeting in 2019, Trump said that he and Rutte had become friends.

1.40 pm

Results may not be known for days

The first polling stations on the east coast of the USA close at midnight German time. Unlike in Germany, for example, there is no prediction of the winner of the election. And counting can take a long time, not only because of the country's many time zones, but also because of the large number of postal votes.

Most experts assume that there will still be no winner on election night - but that is not impossible. In 2020, Joe Biden was only declared the winner on Saturday, i.e. on day four after the election date. In contrast, many Americans found out about Trump's victory in 2016 when they got up the morning after the election.

1.36 am

Harris vs Trump: final spurt before the fateful election

In the race for the White House, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are once again battling for votes in potentially decisive states. Democrat Harris traveled to the important swing state of Pennsylvania for four appearances on Monday, while Republican Trump also traveled to North Carolina and Michigan, where a close race is also looming. It is the candidates' last chance to send a message to their voters before the presidency and the future balance of power in the US parliament are decided on Tuesday. It is also a fateful election for Germany and Europe.

As it is clear in the vast majority of states which party will secure victory there, Democrats and Republicans are concentrating their election campaign on the few swing states where the outcome is still open. Pennsylvania, where there are 19 electoral votes up for grabs - more than in any other key state - is seen as potentially decisive. In order to win, Harris or Trump must win at least 270 electoral votes from the 50 states. In polls, the current vice president and the former president are tied.

There is a lot at stake in Tuesday's vote. It is not only about the domestic political stability of the country, but also about the future role of the USA in international alliances, transatlantic cooperation and how to deal with Russia's and China's striving for power - for example, if Trump wins, Ukraine must fear for the important support of the USA in the war against Russia. Europe's ties with the USA are huge in economic terms and even have existential dimensions in the area of defense.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 0:06 a.m.

Early voting for US election: long queues in Omaha

Between 400 and 500 people crowded outside the electoral commission office in Douglas County in the US state of Nebraska on Monday. It is the only place in Nebraska's most populous county where citizens can cast their vote for the US election in person ahead of time. A large crowd has been recorded there for at least two weeks, but the day before the election, the crowds were especially large in the city of Omaha.

Nearly 370,000 voters are registered in Douglas County. Election Commissioner Brian Kruse expects a voter turnout of about 73 percent. About half of the voters are expected to cast their ballots early, his office said.

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You can read about what was important beforehand here.