Washington, November 06 (QNA) -  Voters in the United States headed to polling stations yesterday to elect their 47th president, between the candidates: Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Polling stations opened their doors at 6:00 am Washington time, and the total number of eligible voters is 230 million.

In addition to the presidential election, American voters are also voting to elect 34 members of the Senate (out of 100), as well as all 435 members of the House of Representatives.

Simultaneously with these elections, gubernatorial elections are taking place in 11 states and two territories (Puerto Rico and American Samoa).

U.S. elections are conducted indirectly through the Electoral College, which has 538 votes, and a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

The following is ongoing coverage and updates on the heated presidential race between Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.

Republican Party Wins US Senate with 51-Seat Majority

The Republican party won control of the US Senate after receiving at least a 51-seat majority, with the initial results of the US presidential and congressional elections appearing following the closing of polling stations in a number of states amid a fierce competition between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat rival Kamala Harris.

In the current structure of the US Senate, Democrats have 51 seats in the council, and Republicans control 49 seats.

Republicans also posted early gains as they battled to retain control of the House of Representatives. They expected to get 159 seats out of 435 and 103 for the Democrats. 

US Presidential Elections: Harris Wins Oregon; Trump Wins Georgia

Washington, November 06 (QNA) - Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has won the state of Oregon's 8 electoral votes in the 2024 US presidential election, while Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has won Georgia and its 16 electoral votes.

Each candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency, determined by the popular vote in each state.

The Electoral College comprises 538 votes, with each state allotted a specific number of electoral votes equal to its representation in the House and Senate. The candidate with the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes, except in Nebraska and Maine, which have a unique system allowing their electoral votes to be split between candidates based on the proportion of votes each receives. 

Trump Snatches Swing State North Carolina from Harris

Washington, November 06 (QNA) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won North Carolina, one of the swing states in the US presidential election, defeating his rival, Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, who had hoped to turn the result in favor of the Democrats and expand her chances of reaching 270 electoral votes.

Trump made successive tours of the state during the last three days of the election campaign, aiming to boost his chances of winning it, in light of the division of the American people over the next choice for the country's presidency.

For her part, Jen O'Malley Dillon, campaign manager for Harris, said in a memo distributed to the campaign team that the "blue wall" of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin now represents the clearest path for Democrats to victory.

While polls have closed in other states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada, their results are still inconclusive.

Trump's Electoral College Votes Rise to 210

The number of Electoral College votes obtained by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has risen to 210, compared to 112 votes secured by his opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

According to preliminary results emerging after the closure of many polling stations, Trump has won in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Utah. Meanwhile, Harris has claimed victories in Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

Harris Adds 10 Electoral Votes Following Colorado Win

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has won the state of Colorado in the 2024 US presidential election, marking another victory in a state known for its Democratic leanings.

Harris was expected to secure Colorado’s 10 electoral votes, as the state has historically supported the Democratic Party in presidential elections, especially over the past two decades. Democratic candidates have won Colorado in recent presidential elections, including Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020.

Despite former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump's visit to Colorado last October, where he highlighted immigration issues and maintained popularity among his supporters, Harris managed to carry the state.

During a campaign rally in Aurora, Trump focused on what he described as an increase in Venezuelan gang activity due to the immigration policies of the current Biden administration, though local officials, including the city’s Republican mayor, dismissed these claims.

In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden won Colorado with over 55% of the vote, while Trump received around 42%. 

Trump Wins in Texas

Republican candidate Donald Trump has won in four additional states in the US presidential election, including Texas, one of the largest states in terms of Electoral College votes, where he secured 40 votes.

Trump also won in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, according to projections from several American media outlets. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, won Delaware, according to the same projections.

So far, results have not been announced for several key swing states, such as Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin, which are expected to play a decisive role in determining the final winner of the election.

The US election is conducted indirectly through the Electoral College, which has 538 votes. A candidate needs 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. 

Harris Wins in 8 More States, Votes Up to 71

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has won in 8 states, securing 71 electoral votes.

Harris received the votes from the following states: Illinois (19 votes), New Jersey (14 votes), Massachusetts (11 votes), Maryland (10 votes), Connecticut (7 votes), Rhode Island (4 votes), Vermont (3 votes), and Delaware (3 votes), bringing her total in the Electoral College to 71.

These preliminary results are part of the intense presidential race between Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, who continues to compete in other states. The Electoral College consists of 538 votes, and a candidate needs at least 270 votes to win the presidency. 

Trump with 95 Projected Electoral Votes, Harris 35

Preliminary results in the US presidential election indicate that Republican candidate Donald Trump has won the states of Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Mississippi, bringing his total to 95 electoral votes.

In contrast, according to early results, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won the states of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, giving her a total of 35 electoral votes.

Trump Projected to Win West Virginia

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has won the state of West Virginia, securing an additional 4 electoral votes, bringing his total so far to 23 votes.

Earlier, Trump won the states of Indiana and Kentucky, gaining 19 votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won the state of Vermont, earning her 3 electoral votes.

To win the presidency, a candidate must obtain an absolute majority in the Electoral College, which is 270 votes. 

Trump Projected to Win Kentucky, Harris Leading in Vermont

Washington, November 06 (QNA) - Preliminary results in the US presidential election indicate that Republican candidate Donald Trump has won the states of Indiana and Kentucky, securing 19 electoral votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won Vermont, gaining 3 electoral votes.

This announcement came shortly after polling stations closed in several eastern states. Within less than half an hour of poll closures, the results from the initial counting of approximately 190,000 votes in Indiana and Kentucky were released, showing Trump with around 62% of those votes compared to Harris’s 36%.

Philadelphia Police Deny Trump Claims Regarding Voter Fraud

The Philadelphia Police Department in Pennsylvania has denied claims made by former U.S. President and Republican candidate Donald Trump regarding voter fraud in the city.

In a statement to CNN, Philadelphia Police confirmed that they are unaware of any reports of election violations that would warrant police intervention.

This denial follows Trump’s post on the Truth Social platform, where he alleged widespread fraud in Philadelphia, a claim he has repeated on previous occasions without providing evidence.

On Tuesday evening, around 4:40 p.m. Eastern Time, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "A lot of talk of massive cheating in Philadelphia. Law enforcement coming!"

Pennsylvania and Georgia Results Could Come Faster Than 2020

Officials in the pivotal swing states of Pennsylvania and Georgia anticipate a more expedited vote-counting process in the current presidential election compared to 2020.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that the vote tallying in his state is expected to be quicker than during the last presidential election, where results were finalized by the Saturday following Election Day. He noted that approximately one million fewer mail-in ballots were requested this year, and a recent change in state election law mandates continuous vote counting, aiming for prompt results in this crucial swing state.

Similarly, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger mentioned that vote counting could commence just an hour after polls close, given that four million votes were cast early and mail-in ballots have already been received.

Despite these improvements, delays in declaring a winner are still possible due to the prevalence of early and mail-in voting, coupled with the intense competition between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The processing of mail-in and absentee ballots may extend the timeline for announcing results in key swing states.

Notably, early voting has increased over the past 24 years. In 2000, early voting was available in 24 states; by 2024, it has expanded to 47 out of the 50 states. Swing states are those where election outcomes are unpredictable due to a lack of consistent allegiance to either the Republican or Democratic parties. These states are critical battlegrounds that can decisively influence the electoral race and determine the next occupant of the White House. 

Polling Stations Close in Some Eastern US States

Polling stations have closed in some eastern US states, while voting continues in others in a highly competitive presidential election between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

The total number of eligible voters is 230 million, although only around 160 million are registered. Nearly half of the 50 US states allow same-day registration on Election Day, while residents in North Dakota can vote without prior registration. More than 80 million people have already cast their ballots via mail or early in-person voting.

The United States spans six time zones, and according to Eastern Time, voting begins at 5 am (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday and continues until 1 a.m. (06:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

In addition to the presidential election, Americans are also voting to elect 34 U.S. senators (out of 100) and all 435 members of the House of Representatives. Additionally, gubernatorial elections are taking place in 11 states and two territories (Puerto Rico and American Samoa).

Earlier today, American voters headed to polling stations to elect their 47th president from among the candidates: Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

(QNA)