Well, it’s kicked off. The voting closed last night (5 November) and the counts have begun, with some states already being called.
And pretty soon, the US will have its new president. Only we don’t quite know how soon but as it stands right now, Donald Trump seems to be projected to win the 2024 election.
With a very tight race throughout the campaigns between him and current Vice President Kamala Harris, millions of American citizens cast their votes early; either voting by post or in person before yesterday.
Polls were initially neck-and-neck with some analysts reluctant to make firm predictions over who would win. But the former president, Trump, has so far been projected to win key swing states North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, putting him right on the cusp of returning to the White House.
It’s looking like he might’ve done it again (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the race will be called quickly and we’ll have a confirmed winner.
When will we know who the new US president is?
So, the media call the result in the days or week (sometimes weeks) after polling day but this is only ever just a projection – the election is officially certified by Congress on 6 January.
How long it takes to be called depends on two key things: how close the votes are in individual states and then the specific laws in those states around vote counts and potential recounts.
Politics professor at NYU and senior geopolitical risk advisor at financial firm Kroll, Josh Tucker told The Independent: “The way to think about this is a razor’s edge coin flip with a wide margin of error which could lead to either candidate winning.
“But it could also lead to these scenarios where we could not know for days or weeks.”
And Dr Hans Noel, associate professor of government at Georgetown, also said: “It is possible it could be really quick,” but he did add: “I think we should be prepared to sit tight.”
She would be the first female US president (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Of course, as things are currently going with Trump winning key swing states including Pennsylvania, there is the possibility we know the projected result today (US’ election night).
Tucker pointed out: “One option for election night is that the polling has been off in a way that favours Donald Trump and it becomes apparent that he wins enough of these states that, even on election night, we’re able to see he’s probably going to win.”
But this still could all be dragged out by a state taking longer to count votes or problems arising.
And there’s still the chance that as the polls predicted it ends up ‘a toss up’ between the pair.
“It was Saturday after the [2020] election that we knew the winner,” Tucker said, so if this year is similar, ‘it will be days’ before getting a projected result.
Noel also agreed this is possible, but if legal issues arise with counts where things are much tighter then we could be waiting for weeks.
Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, US News, Politics
Jess Battison
Trump declares victory in 2024 presidential election as he addresses supporters in Florida
The US election was on a knife’s edge going into polling day
Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 presidential election as he addressed supporters in Florida.
After winning the key swing state of Pennsylvania, the Republican took to the stage at his campaign’s watch party in West Palm Beach where over the cheers, he said it had been the ‘greatest’ ever political movement.
Saying they’d ‘overcome obstacles’ and promising to fix ‘everything’, Trump thanked the crowd for making him their ’47th president’ as well as the 45th US president.
Joined on stage by JD Vance, his wife Melania Trump and campaign staff, he said he’s excited to ‘make America great again’.
“We have taken back control of the senate,” Trump added. “Wow, that’s good.”
Donald Trump says he’s the new president (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The presidential race is, of course, yet to actually be called – and there could still be quite some time until it is. But Trump’s already called it a ‘political victory’ as the crowd kept chanting: “USA, USA, USA.”
“And it also looks like we’ll be keeping control of the House of Representatives,” he added.
Having not yet achieved the official required electoral college votes, Trump believes the ‘golden age’ of America is about to begin.
“This is a magnificent victory for the American people, that will allow us to make America great again,” he added.
Ahead of polling day, voters in the 2024 US presidential election faced a stark choice between two candidates who have offered hugely contrasting approaches and visions in their quest to be the so-called leader of the free world.
Tens of millions of US citizens cast their votes early; either voting by post or in person prior to 5 November.
The Republicans haven’t been announced as winners just yet but he reckons he’s in (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Those voting on polling day mostly encountered a smooth process around the country, with isolated reports of some standard hiccups that often happen. This included long lines to queue, technical issues and errors with printing ballot papers.
Harris, the Democratic vice president, had set her sights on becoming the first female president ahead of election day, promising to work directly with Republicans to tackle economic worries and other issues. It was a stance that was radically different from that taken by the outgoing president of the United States, Joe Biden.
Trump, the Republican former president who lost to Biden in 2020 after beating Hillary Clinton in 2016, promised to replace thousands of federal workers with those loyal to him and his MAGA movement.
He also said he would impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in US history.
The two candidates spent the waning hours of the campaign overlapping in Pennsylvania, the biggest battleground state.
Following on from the 2020 election, Trump launched an effort to overturn the outcome of the election that ended in the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol in 2021.
Featured Image Credit: Sky News/Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Topics: Politics, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, US News
Tom Earnshaw
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump key election issues as millions vote in 2024 presidential election
There is a lot at stake in the 2024 US presidential election
The battle for the White House is nearing its end, with both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump holding their breath as Americans go to the polls in the 2024 US presidential election.
So much is at stake, both domestically and internationally, and the Democratic and Republican candidates vary significantly in their policies and takes on voting issues close to the electorate’s heart.
Harris will be hoping she has done enough in the swing states to pip Trump to the magical 270 electoral votes, while Trump has said it is now or never if he is to return to Washington, as the former reality TV star saying he likely won’t be standing again.
And while the tag lines, rhetoric, and social media play a huge part in deciding the minds of many, those unsure can check out what each candidate is offering below.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on economic policy
Harris says she is going to prioritise bringing down the food bills for Americans, which she will do with a ban on inflating prices on groceries due to a lack of competition.
She also said she will reduce the costs associated with running a house, such as helping first-time buyers and raising the minimum wage.
On taxation, Harris said she will up tax rates on big businesses as well as high earners earning $400,000 a year. That, coincidentally, includes the president themselves. She also wants to increase capital gains tax.
She’s also said she will expand child tax credits to help families struggling to survive.
Meanwhile, Trump says he will ‘end inflation’ and make ‘America affordable again’, hinting that extracting more oil will help on this front.
The former president said he will also bring about lower interest rates, despite the POTUS not setting them or controlling them.
Trump says he will up taxes on imports while cutting taxes worth trillions of dollars, all while deporting undocumented immigrants.
Justifying the tax cuts, he said it will be paid for through growth and the import tax.
Kamala Harris wants to be the next POTUS (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s on women’s rights
Harris has put abortion rights at the heart of her campaign, saying it is a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body.
She says she’ll legislate to put these reproductive rights in to US law.
Trump has flip-flopped on this matter, having previously appointed the US Supreme Court justices who helped overturn the historic Roe v Wade judgement that resulted in 20 states bringing in strict abortion laws.
While he’s previously described these restrictions as a ‘beautiful thing to watch’, during this election campaign, the former president said he will not push for a national abortion ban.
He has also pushed for free IVF for women.
Trump is looking to return to the Oval Office for a final term as POTUS (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on foreign policy
Harris has committed to a co-operative international approach ,while also stressing the USA’s allegiance to NATO. She would continue the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine and call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Trump said he would look at the USA’s approach to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia while also stressing he will end the conflict, but without saying how he would do this.
On the Middle East, Trump has been critical of Israel’s tactics in the ongoing conflicts with the likes of Gaza and Iran.
In the USA, Trump has supported an aggressive reply to those protesting in favour of Palestine, such as stripping foreign students of their visas.
Trump and Harris have only taken part in one presidential debate (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on immigration policy
As vice president, Harris oversaw the issue of the USA’s border with Mexico. Crossings into the States spiked towards the end of last year, before settling at a four-year low heading in to the election.
She says she will take a tough stance on human traffickers exploiting people crossing the border, as well as increase presidential power when it comes to border control.
Trump said he will complete building the wall on the Mexico border that he first mentioned during his 2016 campaign, while also carrying out the largest domestic deportation scheme in the history of the country.
His so-called ‘Muslim travel ban’ would also be reintroduced, banning people from numerous predominantly-Muslim countries from entering the USA.
The time to vote is now (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on the environment
Harris has thrown her support behind a fracking ban and championing electric vehicles. But under the Biden government, she has also been involved in record-high US oil and gas production.
The Biden-Harris administration did sign the Inflation Reduction Act, which promised investments in renewable energy sources to move away from fossil fuels.
Trump, who has previously described climate change as an ‘expensive hoax’, has committed to clean air and water for US citizens.
At the same time, he says he will repeal the Biden administration’s laws enhancing environmental regulations.
He is also a fierce opponent to wind power.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on gun policy
Harris and her vice-president nominee, Tim Walz, both said they are gun owners, while also calling for tighter gun control to stop violence associated with the weapons, such as school shootings.
Harris is in favour of expanding background checks before people can get a gun, as well as also banning assault rifles.
Trump hasn’t put forward any policies to tinker with gun laws, instead embracing them as they are.
Featured Image Credit: Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Topics: Business, Donald Trump, Environment, Money, Politics, US News, Kamala Harris
Tom Earnshaw
Why Trump or Harris won’t immediately become president after 2024 election
They don’t walk in to the White House overnight
The 2024 US presidential election is finally here. But, as with every White House newcomer, whoever wins won’t enter the Oval Office for quite some time yet.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are fighting it out for the most powerful job in the world, with both of them confident of beating the other as millions of US citizens vote in the 2024 election taking place on Tuesday (5 November).
The reality of the situation is that it is a complete toss-up, with the polls too close to confidently say whether the Democrats or Republicans will definitely triumph.
Regardless of who wins out of the current vice president and former POTUS, one thing is for certain; they will not sit behind the desk of the Oval Office on Wednesday.
When will Trump or Harris be announced as the new president?
Voters in the USA will take to the polls on Tuesday to either usher Donald Trump back in to the White House or move Kamala Harris from her current vice presidential quarters in to the Oval Office.
Millions of votes have been cast early this time around, with recounts also a possibility due to how close the result could be.
There could also be legal challenges, especially if Trump loses, given that he still maintains the 2020 presidential election was ‘rigged’ and ‘fraudulent’.
In 2020, which was an incredibly close election, people voted on 3 November, with the result officially declared by US television broadcasters on 7 November, so we could see a similar timeframe again if none of the above hurdles are encountered.
And on the flip side, Obama and Trump’s victories in 2012 and 2016 were known within hours.
A lot will depend on exit polling and how accurate a picture it can portray.
Donald Trump wants to be the new POTUS (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
What happens after they’ve been announced as president?
Once the result looks confirmed, the new president will address their campaign teams and a live audience in a televised announcement.
But the work will continue in the background.
All US states must verify their results by 11 December under the Electoral Count Act. In the window up until this date, any issues or controversies can be filed – such as contesting a result, as Trump did in 2020 – before results are rubber-stamped.
On 17 December, electors from each state will meet to formally put forward their local results for president and vice president.
The vote will be incredibly close (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
So, when do they become president?
Once the votes are ratified and sent to Washington, home of the USA’s political powerhouse, movement will start to bring in the new president.
This takes place after the US Congress meets to count the electoral votes on 6 January, overseen by the current vice president, which itself might be controversial to some voters, due to that person currently being Harris herself.
It was during this meeting in 2021 that the US Capitol building – where Congress sits – was stormed by people who didn’t agree with the result showing a Biden win.
Then, on 20 January, it will be Inauguration Day, where Joe Biden will officially hand over power to either Trump or Harris, who will take the presidential oath of office alongside the same oath for the new vice president.
