In a close and highly anticipated election, the first six votes cast at midnight in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch set an evenly split tone: three votes each for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Dixville Notch, known for its tradition of being the first to report Election Day results since 1960, finished its ballot count by 12:15 a.m., mirroring the national race’s tightness.
The U.S. presidential race hinges on the electoral college, with 538 total votes available and a candidate needing 270 to win. The number of electoral votes per state reflects its population size, with California holding the largest share (54), followed by Texas (40), and Florida (30). The election is expected to be decided in key swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where voter preferences often vary from one election to the next.
This election sees Harris, the Democratic candidate, aiming to become the first woman and the first person of Indian descent to hold the U.S. presidency. Trump, the Republican candidate, is pursuing a comeback that would make him the first president in over a century to serve non-consecutive terms. Polls reflect a razor-thin margin, with both candidates at near parity. According to polling averages from sources like FiveThirtyEight, Harris holds a slight 1-point lead, while other polls show the two either tied or trading slim advantages within the margin of error.
As voting continues, the intense competition in battleground states will likely determine the outcome of this historic race.
