The electoral process proceeded without significant issues, with voters encountering minimal disruptions despite previous worries about misinformation, overseas interference, and safety concerns for electoral staff and voting mechanisms.
Prior to Tuesday’s polls, an impressive 82 million Americans participated in early voting, which proved largely successful despite some challenges, particularly in the crucial state of Pennsylvania.
Electoral surveys from the 2024 presidential contest across seven crucial states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – suggest a close competition between Harris and Trump, with Harris maintaining a narrow advantage.
Initial exit poll findings by Edison Research across these seven states reveal approximately 47% of voters view Harris favourably, whilst Trump garnered 45% support. This represents a subtle change from 2020, when Trump’s approval rating was 46%.
The substantial pre-election day turnout, exceeding half the total votes cast in the previous presidential election, saw increased Republican participation compared to recent elections, following coordinated efforts by Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter traditional Democratic advantages in early voting.
Early voting proceeded smoothly, even in western North Carolina, despite the recent impact of Hurricane Helene. State and local officials, supported by legislative changes from the Republican-controlled assembly, worked diligently to ensure voting access despite infrastructure challenges. The North Carolina Board of Elections confirmed this continued on Tuesday, reporting no difficulties.
Trump indicated he would accept the election outcome, provided the process remains fair.
Harris, Trump’s Democratic challenger, cautioned voters against Trump’s attempts to question electoral integrity. She spent Tuesday afternoon at a Democratic National Committee phone bank, describing such grassroots efforts as “the best of who we are.”