US election 2024 results live updates: Donald Trump declares victory, promises to lead a ‘golden age’ in America
Mr President - again. Donald Trump has claimed victory and promises to return to the White House to deliver “the golden age of America”.
Trump, 78, declared himself the 47th President in a speech to party faithful at an event at West Palm Beach in Florida, flanked by wife Melania and son Barron.
“I will not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America that we deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.”
He also addressed the July assassination attempt that almost claimed his life, telling supporters: “God spared my life for a reason.”
Trump becomes just the second American to win another term after a gap of four years. The other person was Grover Cleveland in 1893.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER LIVE BLOG
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That's all for today. We will be back tomorrow with the latest updates from the US election.
Trump wins presidential election: US media
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Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, US media announced beating Democrat Kamala Harris to complete a stunning political comeback.
Trump’s victory was called by multiple television networks. It returns him to the White House after a long, bruising campaign that saw the polarising Republican ride out two assassination bids and a criminal conviction.
- AFP
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Luxon congratulates Trump on election win
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated President-elect Donald J Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.
“The relationship between our two countries is strong and enduring. I look forward to developing even closer relations with the incoming Trump Administration.
“The US is one of our most important partners, our second largest export destination, and a major source of global innovation and growth. Our long-standing cooperation both bilaterally and in our region has helped ensure our prosperity and security. We will continue to work in partnership with the US to advance our shared long-term interests, particularly through further enhancing our trade and economic relationship and building security and resilience in the Indo-Pacific.”
Luxon also recognised outgoing President Joe Biden.
“I would like to commend the vibrant relationship between our two countries and the breadth of cooperation we have enjoyed during President Biden’s tenure. I admire his dedication to public service and the American people.”
Australian Greens leader on US election: 'Terrifying outcome'
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Zelenskyy congratulates Trump on his 'impressive election victory'
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Starmer and Albanese congratulate Trump
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'The American people have spoken' - Peters
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Luxon congratulates Trump
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Russia denies interference
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Russia’s embassy in the US has denied accusations that Moscow has interfered in the US election after authorities said hoax bomb threats to polling stations appeared to originate in Russia, CNN has reported.
The Russian embassy in Washington said the US accusations were “slanderous and baseless.”
“All insinuations about ‘Russian machinations’ are malicious slander, invented for use in the domestic political struggle of the United States,” the embassy said as reported by state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
France's Macron welcomes back Trump
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No concession from Kamala Harris
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Fox News says it has no evidence there has been a phone call from Kamala Harris to Donald Trump to concede the election.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Trump
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Trump promises unity in victory speech
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“This is the most important job in the world.
“We had a great first term… I have a simple moto: Promises made, promises kept.
"We're going to try to unite ... success will bring us together. I saw that in the first term."
“I want to tell you what a great honour this is … America’s future will be bigger, bolder than it ever has been before.
“God bless America and thank you very much," Trump said, ending his victory speech on stage at his home base of Mar-a-Lago.
Trump: 'God spared my life for a reason'
Andrew Laxon
“We had everybody and it was beautiful,” Trump said of all the different groups and ethnicities that came together to support him.
“We are the party of common sense,” Trump said.
“God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save this country.”
“I’ll never do a rally again, can you believe it?” Trump said, estimating he’d done 900 of them.
The next President said he was sad doing his last one this week.
Anti-vax Kennedy will 'make America healthy again'
Andrew Laxon
“No one deserves this more than him… he’s the most resilient hard-working man I’ve ever met," UFC boss Dana White says of Trump.
“This is karma, ladies and gentleman,” White said.
White thanked Joe Rogan.
“These are hard-working people,” Trump said of his team and supporters.
He thanked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran as an independent candidate before pulling out and supporting Trump.
Trump said Kennedy was going to help “make America healthy again". Kennedy is a vocal opponent of vaccination.
Trump pays tribute to Elon Musk
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“A star is born: Elon. He’s an amazing guy. We spent two weeks in Pennsylvania campaigning,” Trump said paying tribute to Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who endorsed him.
“He sent that rocket up. When it left, it was beautiful.”
Trump is describing the catch-landing of Musk’s Space X rocket - not on the ground but caught by a launch tower.
“This spaceship came down… it looked like it was over, the fire was coming out from the right side. And it came down so gently, those arms like holding a baby,” Trump said.
Trump asked who else could land a rocket, and said Musk confirmed Russia or no one else could.
“He’s a super genius, we have to protect them, we don’t have that many.”
'That's why I love you, Elon.'
Trump is now paying tribute to his friend and the boss of the UFC, Dana White.
Trump on immigration: 'We’re going to seal up those borders'
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“We’re going to make it the best it’s ever been… it was going bad fast,” Trump said of the US.
“We’re going to seal up those borders,” Trump said. “They [immigrants] have to come in legally.”
Trump's running mate JD Vance speaks
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Trump has now thanked his running mate JD Vance and praised him as a “feisty guy”.
“He goes in and absolutely obliterates” the media companies Trump says he has sent him to talk to.
Vance is now speaking, describing Trump’s win as the “greatest political comeback in American history”.
"He's turned out to be a good choice," Trump says of Vance.
"I took a little heat initially", but he has a "good brain", Trump says of Vance.
Trump thanks Melania and 'his amazing children'
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“Winning the popular vote was very nice I tell ya. A feeling of love with unbelievable people beside me… they’ve made the journey with me,” Trump says on stage at Mar-a-Lago during his victory speech.
He says he hopes his supporters will view voting for him as one of the great moments of their life.
Trump is now listing all the states he has won in the Senate.
“They were all won by the MAGA [Make America Great Again] movement. And in those cases they were tough races.”
“I want to thank my beautiful wife Melania, first lady, who has the number one best-selling book in the country.”
"She works very hard to help people."
"I want to thank my amazing children."
Trump on 'the Golden Age of America'
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"We're going to help our country heal... we made history for a reason tonight," Donald Trump says on stage for his victory speech at Mar-a-Lago.
"It's a political victory that our country has never seen before."
“Every citizen, I will fight for you … with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that we deserve.
"This will truly be the Golden Age of America.”
"I love these places," Trump says in reference to the battleground states.
He is projecting he will win 315 electoral votes.
Trump takes stage: 'Greatest political movement of all time'
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“Thank you very much, wow,” Trump says.
“These are our friends, we have thousands of friends in this movement… frankly this was I believe the greatest political movement of all time.”
Trump about to speak
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Trump has appeared on stage for his victory speech.
He is flanked by his wife Melania, son Barron and the rest of his immediate family.
Trump dominates Nebraska
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Harris will win one electoral vote in Nebraska and Trump will win four, CNN projects.
Trump's 'platform for good' - Fox News
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“I think Kamala is a sign of the times, but I think Trump is a metaphor for the country,” Fox News’ Dana Perino says.
“We all get second chances in this life, rarely do we get second chances as big as this one… no one gets a second chance as big as this in their lives and just puts it on the shelf like it’s a trophy or a gold star.
“He’s going to use it as a platform for good.”
CNN calls crucial Pennsylvania for Trump
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Trump will win the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, CNN projects. There are 19 electoral votes at stake in Pennsylvania.
CNN now has Trump on 266 electoral votes - just four from the number needed for the station to announce him as the next US President, as Fox News already has.
New Zealanders react to Trump victory
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Nigel Farage at Trump HQ
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is at Trump HQ at Mar-a-Lago.
$15.9 billion spent on US presidential election
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The Fox News election panel is reporting that $15.9 billion was spent on this election. This is the cumulative amount of all candidates' races.
Trump supporters celebrate
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Supporters in Florida react as Fox News projects Donald Trump is elected President. Photo / AFP
Trump's MAGA mandate
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“Trump now has a MAGA [Make America Great Again] mandate… he can build a wall… he talks about the lessons he’s learned from his first term in the White House. This is a mandate for him,” Fox News’ Kerri Kupec says after the network calls the election for him.
What Trump's victory means - Herald panel
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The Herald's "America Decides" live US election coverage panel have shared their final thoughts.
"The passionate centre of politics needs to come up with a muscular and hopeful response to this [move to the far right]", Josie Pagani says.
Todd Muller describes the result as "a real wake-up call for this country, and other countries".
"We can't [anymore] passively assume America will act in our interests ... [Trump] has a very different view of America's place in the world, and multilateral organisations in the world. We have to be reflective of what this means for us."
"Good luck everybody", Trish Sherson says of Trump's expected win.
"It's a big celebration for the MAGA movement, not the Republicans - that party has gone."
Trump's 'political comeback' as US President - Fox News
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US Speaker of the House congratulates Trump
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Trump wins US election - Fox News
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Fox News has called the US presidential race for Donald Trump.
ScoMo congratulates Trump
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Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has congratulated Donald Trump as networks call his win.
Trump’s ‘war room’ account claims the win
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'Blue wall' turns red
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“I just want to note, your eyes aren’t playing with you at home,” CNN anchor John King says.
“The so-called ‘blue wall’ is deep red at the moment, and that’s the Vice President’s problem.
“She lost North Carolina and Georgia, she’s losing Arizona and Nevada, we’re not done there yet.”
Running on empty: Harris crowd disappears
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Trump crowd reacts to crucial Pennsylvania call
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Trump win projected
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Kamala Harris a no-show
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Trump wins crucial Pennsylvania - Fox News
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Fox News has called Pennsylvania for Trump, which would make his victory all but certain. The state has 19 electoral votes.
Trump arrives at West Palm Beach
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The motorcade carrying former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo / AFP
Kiwi Trump supporter says New Zealanders should be pleased
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Michael Morrah is speaking with a Kiwi Trump supporter at The Empire in Auckland.
"Everybody in New Zealand should be very pleased," the man said.
He compared the trials against Trump to Joseph Stalin's "show trials" in the Soviet Union in the 1930s and said Americans had seen them as an attack on a presidential candidate.
The most serious situation facing the world was the current geopolitical situation with the Russia-Ukraine war, he said.
"Trump is one of the greatest negotiators and he will negotiate peace."
With regard to tariffs, Trump "had his eye on China" since the Bill Clinton presidency had enabled a significant number of US jobs to go to China, the man said.
Republicans win Senate
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CNN, Fox and Associated Press are projecting that Republicans have won back control of the Senate.
Empty seats at Harris watch party
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Empty seats tell the story at an election night watch party for Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC. Photo / AFP
Secret Service moves full security to Mar-a-Lago
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'Nothing good for NZ' - Todd Muller
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"Nothing good comes from [a Trump] win for New Zealand ... and the world," Muller says on the Herald's live election show.
"Because his character is so lacking."
He'd met traditional Republicans "and they're free trade, very strong on foreign policy".
Having a different view meant Trump had been able to reach parts of the electorate that hadn't voted before, Muller said.
"For these people America seems broken to them, [compared] to how it was before."
Harris wins New Mexico
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Harris will win New Mexico, CNN projects, securing five electoral votes.
Trump on his way to party - Nigel Farage posts
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Elon Musk strikes again
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Trump win could spell trouble for US media - Trish Sherson
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The media in the US should be afraid, Trish Sherson says on the Herald's live election coverage.
"This is a President who doesn't believe in a free press."
Traditional media need to reflect on whether they can connect properly with the 63 million people who voted for Trump, co-panellist Todd Muller says.
"Americans aren't going to CBS for their views, they're going to Joe Rogan, they're going to TikTok, to people who can reflect their views back to them."
He loved the "aspiration of the [American] quilt", Muller said.
"But this is two tribes at war ... and this election is going to amplify it. This is massive for the world, massive for New Zealand, but I don't see a unifying figure in four years being able to wind back the clock."
Co-panellist Josie Pagani says she doesn't believe the US is as divided as the likely election result shows.
"But there has to be a reckoning on the Democratic side. We should not have lost this election."
Lights out at Harris HQ
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What Trump win could mean for Ukraine
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Political commentator Josie Pagani has told the Herald's live show Europe might step up, given Trump's position on Ukraine.
"They might be thinking, 'well we're on our own now'".
'It’s amazing she’s come as close as she has' - Former Bush adviser
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Former adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff to George W. Bush’s administration, Karl Rove, spoke to Fox News about the challenges Kamala Harris faced in the campaign.
“Think about all that she had to face,” Rove said.
“This is an abysmal number when it comes to the approval of the sitting President. No party has elected a President when their sitting incumbent had as low a job approval as this President had.
“Take a look at the ‘right direction/wrong track’ [criteria]. I mean two-thirds of the American people say the country is going in the wrong direction and she represents the party in power. To me, it’s amazing she’s come as close as she has. She was the Vice President in a very unpopular administration.”
'Trump makes Nixon look like an angel' - Todd Muller
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On Kamala Harris not appearing tonight, Todd Muller said: "Unfortunately when she wakes up in the morning the picture's going to be the same."
This was the greatest comeback of a politician, eclipsing Richard Nixon, who was beaten by John F. Kennedy in 1960 before eventually being elected to the presidency eight years later, he said.
"And Trump makes Nixon looks like an angel."
Kamala Harris will not be speaking tonight
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Kamala Harris has told the crowd gathered at her event, via a spokesperson, that she won't be speaking tonight.
Trump 'going to take women back to the 1700s'
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A Kamala Harris supporter at The Empire hotel in Auckland tonight told Michael Morrah Trump was "playing dumb" on Project 2025, which she described as an "extremist policy" that's going to "take women back to the 1700s".
Project 2025 is a 900-page policy "wish list" for the next Republican president, a proposal that would expand presidential power and impose an ultra-conservative social vision, according to the BBC.
The American woman said she was "feeling deflated" but added: "I'm just glad I'm in New Zealand."
Trump wins crucial battleground state of Georgia
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Trump will win the key battleground state of Georgia, CNN projects.
This gives him 246 electoral votes. He needs 270 to win.
Georgia is a fairly new battleground state and helped deliver President Joe Biden his White House victory in 2020. Georgia flipped blue for the first time in nearly 30 years when Biden won by just 11,779 votes.
Jon Stewart speechless
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'A level of control we've never seen before' - Trish Sherson
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The Republicans look to have control of the Senate, a majority on the Supreme Court and likely the Presidency.
To have that much power in all those institutions shows "a level of control we've never seen before", Trish Sherson says on the Herald's live show.
"He is saying the things the electorate wants to hear".
Democrats should have had a primary - Pagani
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"I don't think it's her fault," political commentator Josie Pagani says of Kamala Harris.
"She's tried to do that broad coalition. She said 'I'll govern for people who don't vote for me' ... she even said 'I carry a gun'. Was she the right candidate? Should they have had a primary? They should have," Pagani said on the Herald's live show.
Trump winning North Carolina 'a gut check' for the party
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Chris Wallace told CNN’s Jake Tapper after Trump’s North Carolina win, the election is currently feeling more like the 2016 election rather than 2020. Wallace added there were still plenty of votes to count.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins said Trump winning the battleground state would be a “gut check” for the party.
“North Carolina is an important benchmark for the Trump campaign because they were watching it to get a gut check for how they believe the rest of the evening could go,” Collins said.
Matthew Hooton: Dangerous times for US
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Herald columnist Matthew Hooton predicts a Trump presidency will take the United States into its most dangerous period since the Civil War.
Trump 'won in essence because he's a man'
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In Trump's first term, he had people around him who stymied his worst impulses. That wasn't the case this time, political commentator Josie Pagani says on the Herald's live show.
"'One hundred per cent tariffs, great' .. a Trump unleashed."
Trish Sherson said Trump had won "in essence, because he's a man".
Men in black neighbourhoods thought the country needed a strong man.
It looks like [young men] might have actually made it to the polls, Sherson said.
The post-mortem in the Democrats is going to be bloody, Pagani says.
'CNN seems resigned to a Trump victory'
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Elon Musk posts
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Crowd gathers to hear Kamala Harris speak
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A large group of Harris-Walz campaign staff wearing MVP badges has now entered the public zone of the election night party, where Kamala Harris will eventually speak. Previously, large parts of the area around Harris’ lectern had been empty.
We’re still likely some way off seeing Harris herself, however.
'We're now entering very uncertain territory': Former diplomat urges Luxon to visit China
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Former diplomat Stephen Jacobi said it was "a little worrying for our exporters tonight".
"We're now entering very uncertain territory when the parameters of US trade policy are not known ... and what is known of what Trump policy [is] not good."
For the Chinese, this election was a lose-lose, Jacobi said.
The Biden administration had been more polite about it, but some of their policies around solar panels and EVs were starting to bite.
"But I think for them it's again, unknown territory."
It was important for PM Christopher Luxon to get to China as soon as possible in the new year, "no doubt about it".
New Zealand needed to pay attention to both the US and China because "both are very important to us".
It was a fallacy to say US manufacturing could be revived by tariffs, despite Trump's promises to Rust Belt voters.
Trump to win three of five electoral votes in Nebraska
Vera Alves
Trump will win three of five electoral votes in Nebraska, CNN projects.
Nebraska is one of only two states, Maine is the other, to allow its electoral votes to be split.
Harris to win Hawaii
Vera Alves
Harris will win Hawaii, CNN projects, securing four electoral votes.
Trump headquarters 'really fired up'
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Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie reporting from Trump headquarters in Florida, says people are getting “really fired up”.
“Behind me there’s a bigger crowd now and that’s because a lot of folks from Mar-a-Lago who were partying over with the former President are now starting to trickle in,” she said.
“I’m told by folks in Mar-a-Lago that the mood is very positive and I also now know that house speaker Mike Johnson, who is at his own party in Louisiana, is now in a plane en route to Mar-a-Lago to come and celebrate with the former President. So all around there are the signs that there is going to be a victory here tonight.”
'Quite a dangerous situation' - Tim Groser
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Tim Groser told Ryan Bridge on the Herald's live show there would be a difficult "lame duck" period before a new President is sworn in.
"This is quite a dangerous situation. We have two wars going on ... and the position of the US is central as to what is going to happen next in Ukraine and the Middle East."
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin would also be influenced by an incoming Trump Government.
Speaking personally, he was underwhelmed by Harris' campaign, but it would be a more stable situation than a Trump presidency, Groser said.
"It's all negative ... it's not a great night for New Zealand."
Groser spoke about billionaires now controlling some large parts of social media, such as Tesla boss Elon Musk owning X.
"It will be interesting to see Musk's impact on Trump."
Musk has said he opposes US tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Harris wins Virginia
Vera Alves
Kamala Harris has won the state of Virginia, securing 13 electoral votes, NBC News projects.
Trump leading in crucial Georgia
Vera Alves
In the battleground state of Georgia, Trump leads with 50.7% of the vote, and Harris sits at 48.4%, according to CNN.
Trump won the state in 2016, but in 2020, Biden beat him by fewer than 12,000 votes.
It’s estimated 93% of the vote has been counted.
Republican clean sweep forecast
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It looks like the Republicans could win a clean sweep of the federal government, gaining control of Congress and the Senate, as well as the presidency.
The New York Times has Trump ahead of Harris by 230 Electoral College votes to 187 (270 votes to win). The Times says the Republicans lead the Senate race by 49 to 40 (50 to win) and Congress by 165 to 111 (218 to win).
Reuters, which supplies the election data to the Herald and CNN, has similar numbers for the presidency and Senate but puts Congress at 176 to 150 in favour of the Republicans.
Fox is now predicting the Republicans will take the Senate.
'It's looking grim': Former trade negotiator on why Trump is bad news for NZ
Vera Alves
Trump said to people in Chicago a week ago his favourite word was "tariff", Ryan Bridge said on the Herald's live show, before asking former trade negotiator and diplomat Charles Finny "how screwed are we?"
"It's looking grim", Finny said.
"[Trump] means higher tariffs in New Zealand."
"We're looking at huge disruption", he said, as China was likely to react poorly if Trump goes ahead with plans to impose up to 60% tariffs on Chinese goods.
The supply chain could also be choked, and "that's not a good thing", Finny said.
Most members of the WTO are negotiating free trade agreements all the time, Finny said.
"The problem is the US is an outlier. What will happen if Trump is elected is we'll be working closer with our TTPA partnership."
What happens in Vegas... could help decide the election
Vera Alves
One of the seven battleground states scrutinised in the lead-up to the election, Nevada, only has 2% of the vote counted so far.
The state has voted Democratic for the past four presidential elections.
But Trump holds a dramatic early lead in the one county where votes have been counted so far, with 73% of the vote to Harris’ 26.2%.
Harris' possible path to the presidency
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Kamala Harris’s most likely path to the presidency is through the "Rust Belt" as she has posted some of her best polling numbers there.
If she is able to win Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as all the non-swing states that Joe Biden won in 2020, that would put her at exactly 270 electoral votes - the minimum necessary to win.
Key interests stay the same for US and NZ - US consul general in Auckland
Vera Alves
Michael Morrah is with Melissa Sweeney, the US consul general, at The Empire hotel in Auckland.
"Anytime there's a change in the presidency there can be a change in policies but our key interests stay the same," Sweeney said.
There was a long-standing history between the countries.
"I don't expect there will be a dramatic shift in our relationship."
On tariffs, Sweeney said the US State Department is non-partisan so if tariffs become one of the key priorities of a new administration then we would work with them.
Trump leading in crucial state of Michigan
Vera Alves
In the crucial swing state of Michigan, Trump leads with 51.2% of the vote, and Harris sits at 47%, according to CNN.
It’s estimated 41% of the vote has been counted.
Culture war to blame for close election - political commentator
Vera Alves
In the past, parties would win far beyond 50% of the vote; that had changed because of the culture war, political commentator Josie Pagani has said on the Herald's live show.
"You've got these polarised cultures. Harris having these podcasts with Brene Brown, and Trump and JD Vance having these podcasts with Joe Rogan."
Todd Muller says Trump has likely won
Vera Alves
Trump's North Carolina win was big, Todd Muller has said on the Herald's live show.
"Now it's the rust belt - Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin - and Trump is leading by all three."
He believes Trump has won.
Trump is leading in all seven swing states - follow our interactive map for full numbers
Vera Alves
You can follow every vote and every state with our live interactive map. You can also toggle to see how many Electoral College votes each state is worth.
Watch live on interactive map: Will key states swing red or blue?
Trump leading in Wisconsin - another crucial swing state
Vera Alves
In the swing state of Wisconsin, Trump leads with 50.6% of the vote, and Harris sits at 47.8%, according to CNN.
It’s estimated 70% of the vote has been counted
Harris and Trump neck and neck in crucial Arizona
Vera Alves
The crucial battleground state of Arizona is neck and neck with 51% of the vote counted.
Trump holds 49.6% of the vote and Harris 49.5%, according to CNN.
ARTICLE CONTINUES
(Earlier)
The former President was expected to take an early lead based on poll closing times in Republican-friendly states.
As CNN’s Chris Wallace explained: “All the states that Trump has won tonight are states that he won in 2020. All the states that Harris has won are states that Biden won in 2020. There has been no swing state that has been flipped yet.”
Trump had claimed earlier today that there had been “massive cheating” taking place in the presidential election, mere hours after saying he would only accept the result of the vote if it was “fair”.
Trump made the cheating allegation on his Truth Social account, claiming it had taken place in Philadelphia and that “law enforcement coming”.
The Republican candidate’s claim was swiftly rejected by Philadelphia’s district attorney, Larry Krasner, who said there was “no factual basis whatsoever” to Trump’s claim of irregularities.
Krasner said the former president has made a “wild assertion”.
As the first poll results begin to emerge, female turnout is set to be high, which could prove to be a boost for Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.
The first exit polls suggest women are accounting for some 53% of the vote, six points ahead of men, and one point up on the last election.
Earlier, US police and the military were bracing for widespread civil unrest after the presidential election today.
As fears grow that a long wait before a result could fuel violence on the streets, barriers have been erected around key sites in Washington, DC, including at the Capitol, the White House and Kamala Harris’ residence.
Authorities are anticipating major protests across the country later in the week, which could be exacerbated if some states do not report final results for days. In Washington, Oregon and Nevada, the National Guard has been placed on standby to deal with riots and civil unrest.
Some election offices in Detroit and Atlanta, the largest cities in the key swing states of Michigan and Georgia, have been placed behind bulletproof glass to protect staff from rioting, while a ballot-counting warehouse in Philadelphia has been surrounded by barbed wire.
Adrian Fonte, Arizona’s Secretary of State who is in charge of certifying the state’s results, has said he wears a bulletproof vest. In Maricopa County, which includes the state capital of Phoenix, officials are considering stationing snipers on rooftops.
Some election officials have been issued with panic buttons to press if they are placed in any danger while counting votes.
The presidential election remains too close to call, as Americans head to the polls today.
Most pollsters have their predictions for the seven swing states within the margin of statistical error, making it impossible to determine the result with any certainty.
In some states, almost half of votes have already been cast.
Analysis of early voting data suggests a late boost for Harris, the Democratic nominee, including from women and older voters in some swing states.
Donald Trump, who remains the frontrunner in the US betting markets and some poll models, has deployed dark rhetoric in his final rallies of the campaign and said he believes the election will be “stolen” by Democrats.
Some of Trump’s supporters, expecting a close result that could be called for Harris, have said they are willing to take action to challenge her victory. Members of the Proud Boys, a far-Right group involved in the January 6 riots, have suggested in Telegram groups that they plan to return to the streets if Trump loses.
A poem, posted in the group of an Ohio chapter of the Proud Boys that was reviewed by The Telegraph, calls for fellow members to “fight”.
“The time has come, citizens stand tall,” it reads. “This woke mentality it must fall!/Their evil ways have come to light/The American Proud Boy is here to fight!”
The precautions follow violence at the Capitol in January 2021, when Trump’s supporters protested against the certification of election results that showed Joe Biden had won the presidency. Several of the ringleaders, including members of the Proud Boys, have since been jailed.
Trump faces ongoing legal proceedings over his alleged encouragement of the rioters.
Any unrest is likely to be most severe in Washington, DC and in areas where the result is close and takes longer to certify.
In Pennsylvania, which is likely to be the most pivotal state in determining the overall result, certifying ballots could take several days because officials will not start counting postal votes until election day. The Republican National Committee has mobilised a team of “election integrity” officials and poll watchers that will feed back information from the states to the party’s headquarters as the results are counted.
Presidential elections are typically called by major news outlets within 48 hours of polls closing, but some counts and recounts have lasted as long as a month.
Kamala Harris was leading Donald Trump by 4% on the final day of the election campaign yesterday, according to new data.
The final PBS News/NPR/Marist national survey before the election puts Harris on 51% of the vote, compared with 47% for the former President.
The results of the poll suggest Harris’ efforts to reach across party lines may have paid off, as 8% of Republicans said they will vote for her — compared with 5% a month ago. Meanwhile, only 4% of Democrats said they will vote for Trump.
The survey also found the gender gap has narrowed significantly during the final days of the race. Previously, Trump led among male voters 57% to Harris’ 41%. He now leads 51% to 47%.
The poll of 1297 likely voters carried out between October 31 and November 2 represents a two-point boost for Harris since early October.
It comes after a separate poll by Research Co. found that Harris is outstripping Trump in the key swing state of Pennsylvania with 49% of the vote, one point ahead of Donald Trump on 48%.
More than 80 million voters have already cast ballots, and both candidates spent the campaign’s final hours yesterday doing everything they can to ensure their remaining supporters vote.
“It’s ours to lose,” Trump told supporters gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“If we get everybody out and vote, there’s not a thing they can do.”
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, Harris urged several hundred volunteers to enjoy the moment as they headed out to knock on doors.
“We all have so much more in common than what separates us,” she said.
- Agencies