Millions of Americans around the country have been casting their vote in the 2024 US Presidential Election today to select the next leader of the country.
The Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, and the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, are locked in a close race, with polls highlighting the deep divisions within the nation.
Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance cast his ballot in-person this morning at his polling place in Cincinnati, Ohio.
‘We do expect to win,’ Vance told reporters outside the polling station. Trump also cast his ballot in Florida, saying he was ‘very honoured’ to see long lines.
Polls are still open in most states, with with Kentucky and Indiana the first to shut. AP has reported that Trump has won the two states.
Harris has won Vermont, AP said.
In the charts below, you can track the results as they come in in each state and find key timings of events tonight.
Voters have been showing out en masse for the 2024 election (Picture: Reuters)
What are the key results so far?
6pm Eastern Time (ET) — The first polls will close in Kentucky and Indiana.
7pm ET — Polls will close in key swing state Georgia, as well as five other states.
7.30pm ET — Polls close in North Carolina, West Virginia and Ohio.
8pm ET — Polls close in 16 states, including swing state Pennsylvania.
8.30pm ET — Polls close in Arkansas.
9pm ET — Polls close in 15 states, including swing states Michigan and Wisconsin.
10pm ET — Polls close in Nevada, Montana and Utah.
What are swing states?
‘Swing states’ are those of the 50 United States where both major political parties have a genuine chance of winning over the majority of voters in a presidential election.
For this election, the seven states that both the Democrats and Republicans agreed meet the criteria for being swing states, are: Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and, of course, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes which is the most of any swing state.
Which states are still left to vote?
(Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In most states, polls close around 7 p.m. on Election Day, marking the start of the counting process. However, due to the vast size of the U.S., with voters in Alaska and Hawaii casting ballots later because of the time difference, official results aren’t immediately available.
While the winner is often clear by the following morning, it can sometimes take several days for a result to be confirmed.
American voters have until this evening to cast their ballots before polls close.
The first states with polls to close will be Kentucky and Indiana, which will close at 11pm UK time.