US presidential election goes down to the wire after tumultuous campaign season

Americans head to the polls in one of the most nail-biting and dramatic presidential elections in recent history, with former US president Donald Trump and present Vice-President Kamala Harris neck and neck across several key swing states.

Over the past few months, the world has witnessed a near-miss assassination attempt on Trump, followed by President Joe Biden’s abrupt decision to quit the race, leaving his deputy Harris as the Democrats’ last-minute candidate to stop Trump from making a historic return to the White House.

Trump, who lost to Biden in 2020 after a chaotic and bitter contest, is fighting for what could be the end of his political career or a redefinition of his legacy. Polling data points to a razor-thin race even as voting stations start to open across the country.

All eyes are on the seven “swing states” – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina – where most observers believe the election battle will be decided. Trump wrapped up his final rally in Michigan while Harris capped her campaign in Philadelphia.

Harris has a narrow edge in most national polls. According to combined polling averages compiled by The New York Times, Harris led national polls at 49 per cent compared to Trump’s 48 per cent. The latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll on Monday showed Harris with a four-point lead over Trump.

However, under the US Electoral College system, the popular vote does not guarantee victory. Five presidents in US history have won the presidency without winning the popular vote, the most recent being Donald Trump in 2016.