The US presidential election is in its final stretch, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump making their last appeals to voters.

Crucial swing states to watch

As Election Day approaches, attention is focused on seven swing states expected to decide the Electoral College outcome: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
These states hold the majority of electoral votes needed to reach the decisive threshold of 270, making them the central battlegrounds for both campaigns.

Know your candidates

In the main contest, Republican Donald Trump is challenging Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Additionally, third-party and independent candidates are making their bids, including Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who is running for the second time.
Cornel West, originally affiliated with the Green Party, is also in the race as an independent candidate, bringing alternative perspectives to the election.

Election day and early voting

More than 68 million Americans have already voted early—via mail-in ballots or in-person options—and turnout is expected to surge on November 5 as millions more head to the polls.
The timing of ballot openings varies across states, beginning at midnight on Tuesday in some areas, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab tracker.

Neck-to-neck race for White House

The race remains too close to call, with recent opinion polls showing Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in the key states likely to decide the election.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Sunday indicated a virtual tie in the decisive swing states, showing how unpredictable the race is. Although Harris was shown leading in Iowa—an unexpected turn in a state Trump has previously won with ease—another poll indicates she is trailing there, adding further uncertainty to the election’s outcome.