US Election 2024: Americans cast their votes in pivotal Harris vs. Trump showdown

UNITED STATES: Election Day has arrived on Tuesday, 5 November 2024, with Americans heading to the polls to decide between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. With over 82 million ballots already cast in early voting, today’s polls mark the last opportunity for millions more to decide the nation’s future. This election centres on seven battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that could swing the election toward either candidate. These states, each with a recent history of shifting political allegiances, are pivotal in this election.

Key battleground states and their impact

Arizona, with its 11 electoral votes, has emerged as a significant focus for both candidates. In the 2016 election, Trump won Arizona, but Biden narrowly secured the state in 2020. Georgia, holding 16 electoral votes, marked its first Democratic victory since 1992 when Biden won by a slim margin in 2020. Allegations that Trump and his allies attempted to overturn these results have remained contentious, with the situation currently under investigation in a high-profile case in Fulton County. Michigan, which has 15 electoral votes, is part of the Democrats' traditional "blue wall." However, Trump flipped it in 2016, before Biden reclaimed it in 2020. In Nevada, which has six electoral votes, the state has generally leaned Democratic, yet both campaigns have put in significant effort here. North Carolina, with its 16 electoral votes, remains unpredictable, as both candidates have visited areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Biden narrowly lost the state in 2020, and Democrats have only secured North Carolina twice since 1968. Pennsylvania, often considered a must-win state with 19 electoral votes, saw Biden secure victory in 2020 after Trump took it in 2016. Both Harris and Trump have campaigned intensively in Pennsylvania, with each making over 20 visits. Finally, Wisconsin, with its 10 electoral votes, has seen a shift in allegiance, swinging from Democratic to Trump in 2016 and then back to Biden in 2020.

Harris and Trump conclude campaigns with final rallies

Both candidates wrapped up their campaigns with late-night rallies on Election Eve, presenting sharp contrasts in their vision for the country. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—a symbolic birthplace of American democracy—Harris closed her campaign with an election-eve rally that blended patriotism and culture, held at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art. Referencing the famous “Rocky” steps at the museum, Harris drew a parallel to the uphill battle she believes democracy faces. "We love our country. And when you love something, you fight for it," Harris declared before midnight. “I believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, an expression of our love for our country, to fight for its ideals and to work toward realizing the promise of America.” She travelled across Pennsylvania on Monday, calling for unity and civic duty amidst what she described as a fragile period for democratic values. Her speech in Philadelphia culminated a fast-paced campaign aimed at highlighting her commitment to protecting democratic values. In Michigan, former President Trump delivered an intense two-hour rally speech in Grand Rapids, reaffirming his promises of tariff increases and strict immigration controls. Framing his campaign as a fight against a "corrupt" Democratic system, he urged his supporters to stand up against what he calls a biased establishment. “I’m not running against Kamala, I’m running against an evil Democrat system,” Trump said, energizing his supporters. "The silent majority is back, and tomorrow you need to get out and vote.” Trump noted that he had participated in over 900 rallies this year, calling the campaign an “incredible journey” and expressing both pride and nostalgia as he reflected on his efforts. “This is the last one,” Trump said.  “But all we were doing is putting ourselves in a position to win, which we can do tomorrow very easily if we show up.”

Contrasting visions on key issues

As Americans cast their ballots, they are choosing between two candidates with opposing views on pivotal issues such as the economy, reproductive rights, immigration, foreign policy and climate policy. Harris connects her economic plan to the Biden administration's record, with policies targeting inflation, price gouging, housing, and first-time homebuyers. She supports tax cuts for middle-income families and small businesses, and proposes raising the corporate tax rate to 28%. In contrast, Trump pledges to restore his pre-pandemic economic approach, focusing on energy deregulation and tax cuts for U.S.-based companies. He proposes boosting oil and gas drilling to tackle inflation but faces expert warnings of potential costs. His “tariff man” policy would impose broad tariffs on imports, particularly from China, which some economists say could be inflationary. On the issue of reproductive rights, Harris supports restoring Roe v. Wade protections at the federal level, blocking abortion bans before 24 weeks, and expanding access to IVF and contraception. Meanwhile, Trump, who helped overturn Roe, believes abortion should be a state decision. Though he has opposed a national abortion ban, his stance varies. His campaign hints at limiting abortion pills and potentially restricting IVF, which he proposes to make free. Harris warns of Trump’s “fascist” tendencies and calls for reforms, like ending the filibuster, to advance voting rights and protect democracy. On the other hand, Trump continues to dispute the 2020 election, promising to pardon January 6 defendants and pledging to prosecute political opponents. Facing federal charges, he has signaled plans to politicize federal agencies against critics. In terms of immigration, Harris supports comprehensive reform with pathways to citizenship, emphasizing humane border policies. Conversely, Trump promises a record-high deportation operation, elimination of birthright citizenship, and ideological immigrant screenings, measures likely to face legal challenges. When it comes to foreign policy, Harris aligns with Biden’s approach, supporting NATO, aid to Ukraine, and competitive measures against China. Trump, however, is critical of global alliances, suggesting he might withdraw from NATO. He claims he could end the Russia-Ukraine war without detailing how. His stance on China includes imposing tariffs, but he has a complex relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On climate and energy, Harris calls climate change an existential threat, supporting clean energy, electric vehicle incentives, and environmental justice programs, alongside US fossil fuel production. In contrast, Trump is skeptical of climate science, focusing on fossil fuel expansion and vowing to dismantle Biden-era environmental regulations. He opposes wind power, citing unproven health and environmental concerns.

Polling hours and election day schedule

Polling stations across the US began opening early Tuesday morning, with the first locations in Vermont starting at 5 am ET. East Coast states generally opened by 6 am ET. Poll closures follow a staggered schedule based on time zones, with the earliest closings at 6 pm ET in certain areas of Indiana and Kentucky, while final polls close at midnight in Hawaii and parts of Alaska. This staggered approach allows for the efficient management of voting across different regions and time zones, ensuring all eligible Americans have an opportunity to cast their votes until the final deadlines. Election Day 2024 represents a defining moment in American politics, with voters presented a choice between Harris’s progressive policies and Trump’s nationalist agenda. The election’s outcome will shape the direction of the United States across critical issues, marking a turning point for the nation's political landscape.