If you’re planning to stay up all night to watch the US election results roll in, you’ve come to the right place. From swing states to key result timings, this guide has everything you need to navigate the suspense and stay ahead of the game.
Europeans will be hanging onto their chairs tomorrow as Americans across all 50 states head to the polls to elect the next leader of the world’s most powerful nation. Their choice will have far-reaching consequences for Europe and beyond, influencing everything from trade and economics to technology, the environment, and healthcare. Around 65 million Americans have already cast their ballots, thanks to early and absentee voting, which allows people to vote in advance or by post. So, what can we expect from election night? Focus on the swing statesForget following the presidential race in all 50 states. Only seven key battlegrounds, known as swing states, will truly determine the outcome. These are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In the rest of the states, the results are more or less a foregone conclusion. Pennsylvania will be one of the most closely watched, since it votes in 19 members of the presidential electoral college, the largest number of the swing states.Euronews has prepared an explainer to help you understand the US electoral system and the pivotal role of swing states. When to Expect the First Results – in Central European TimeFirst exit pollsExpect them around 11pm CET. These will give us an early indication of trends, but don’t get too excited just yet—many polling stations will still be open for a few more hours. Exit polls will also provide valuable insights into voter turnout and the demographic makeup of voters (education, origin, gender, age), which often hints at the direction of the race. Polls closingPolling stations will close between 11pm CET and 5am, starting with Kentucky and Indiana, and ending with Alaska and Hawaii. But with only three and four electoral votes respectively, their results won’t be decisive. As for the swing states, Georgian polls close at 1am CET, North Carolina at 1:30am, Pennsylvania at 2am, Michigan between 2am and 3am, Nevada at 4am, and Wisconsin and Arizona at 3am. Making the callDon’t expect all states to declare their results overnight. The first crucial results should come from Georgia around 4am, followed by North Carolina and Michigan. These states count mail-in ballots before the polls close, unlike others. Early results from these states could already set the tone for the night. For instance, if Harris wins both Georgia and North Carolina, Arizona’s electoral votes could become critical. If the margins in the elections are decisive in Georgia and North Carolina, there may be some clear results signalled from those states first, but if the results are close, a recount might be requested, delaying the final outcome further. In 2020, only Arizona declared its results on election night. The rest took longer, with some finalising days or even two weeks later due to recounts. Will it be this simple?Well, maybe not. Both Republican and Democratic teams have already prepared legal challenges, which could lead to recounts. This election has been marked by heightened tension, with personal attacks and even doubts cast on the integrity of the process. Protests aren’t out of the question either. Remember, Joe Biden’s 2020 victory over then-President Donald Trump sparked an insurrection at the Capitol in January 2021—a moment described by a US congressional panel as an attempted coup.
Appeared first on: euronews.com