The Impressive TimesThe United States heads to the polls today in a crucial presidential election, with Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump facing off against Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris. The election is anticipated to be a close and highly watched contest, with both candidates striving to capture key battleground states that could determine the next occupant of the White House.
Due to the U.S.’s diverse time zones, voting will commence at different times across the country, beginning between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm India Standard Time (IST). While most polling stations will close by 5:30 am IST tomorrow, others may remain open until around 9:30 am IST, depending on local rules. Although the results from each state will start trickling in as polling stations close, it may take days to have a conclusive result. The delay is expected due to the high number of mail-in ballots, an option many voters chose to avoid long lines at polling stations.
In the United States, the president is elected through an indirect voting system known as the Electoral College. This system allocates a specific number of electoral votes to each state based on its population. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of 270 or more of the total 538 electoral college votes. Unlike many other democracies, the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide may not necessarily win the presidency; instead, the key to victory lies in winning a majority of electoral votes. This structure places particular importance on swing states where both parties have a relatively even level of support.
This year’s election cycle has seen an increase in early voting, particularly through mail-in ballots. The COVID-19 pandemic, which reshaped voting behavior in 2020, continues to influence turnout methods, with many Americans choosing postal voting or early in-person voting over traditional Election Day voting. The final count of votes might take longer in some states due to this surge in early voting.
After today’s election, the next key date will be January 6, when a joint session of Congress will officially count the electoral votes submitted by each state. If one candidate has secured 270 or more electoral votes by then, they will be confirmed as the President-elect, even if they did not win the national popular vote. The president-elect will then be inaugurated on January 20, marking the official start of their four-year term in office.
As Americans vote today, the nation and the world are closely watching to see which direction the U.S. will take on critical issues such as the economy, healthcare, foreign policy, and climate change. The stakes are high, and the outcome of this election could shape both domestic and global policies for years to come.
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