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American voters are heading to the polls on Election Day as Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump conclude their campaigns.
The economy and the state of US democracy are among the top issues cited by voters in NBC News’s exit poll, according to the preliminary results.
Thirty-five percent said democracy was their top issue while slightly fewer, 31 percent, said the economy. Abortion was the top issue for 14 percent of voters while 11 percent said immigration. Four percent said foreign policy was most important to them.
Meanwhile, Trump dismissed critics who expressed concerns that he would not concede an election loss as “crazy” as he cast his vote in Florida.
The former president told reporters as he voted with his wife Melania Trump: “If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge it.”
Trump later declared that his supporters are “not violent people.”
The first in-person votes were cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, at midnight on Monday – a tradition going back almost 65 years – with the town’s six registered voters split evenly between the two candidates.
Trump vs Harris: Live election 2024 results map
As election workers count ballots and voting data is released, media outlets will begin to call states in favor of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump this evening. While outlets will likely call the final result in the days or week(s) after November 5, their determination is only ever a projection. The election will be officially certified on January 6 by Congress.
NBC News, among other outlets, released the results of their exit polls on Tuesday afternoon. Voters ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue, while the economy came second.
Trading in Trump’s media stock repeatedly halted on election day after sudden loss
Trump owns nearly 57 per cent of all shares in the company.
Trading was paused for a few minutes at 2.48pm, then again at 2.55pm, and once more at 3.02pm, the New York Stock Exchange shows.
Philadelphia City Commissioner responds to Trump claims of ‘cheating’
In a purple county in Pennsylvania, residents say ‘it’s been insane’ as they go out to vote
A purple county in the middle of a swing state may be a dream for presidential candidates, but the reality of being a campaign’s most desired item — a possibly undecided voter! — is a nightmare for the residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Voters here are hammered by political ads from all sides, and many are happy it will finally come to an end on Tuesday.
“It’s been insane,” says Wendy Hanley, a 49-year-old resident of Bensalem, as she leaves a polling place at a high school in the town. “That’s all we get in the mail. Phone calls, texts, TV.”
“People are coming to our door constantly,” she adds.
Live: 2024 US election results map as Trump and Harris go head-to-head for presidency
As election workers count the ballots and voting data is released, media outlets will begin to call states in favor of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump this evening. While outlets will likely call the final result in the days or week(s) after 5 November, their determination is only ever a projection. The election will be officially certified on 6 January by Congress.
The economy and the state of US democracy are among the top issues cited by voters in NBC News’s exit poll, according to the preliminary results.
The Republican chose to close out his final rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with personal attacks on Harris, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and their fellow California Democrat Adam Schiff.
The Democrat was joined in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by celebrities Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Ricky Martin and The Roots while Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera supported her in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.
At midnight, the first in-person votes were cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire – a tradition going back almost 65 years.
In Florida, Trumpworld figures project confidence in public — and worry in private
Allies and friends of former president Donald Trump are publicly projecting confidence, despite signs that his campaign hasn’t brought out enough voters to give him the edge over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump aides began trickling in to the West Palm Beach, Florida hotel next to the convention center where the campaign’s watch party is to take place, starting around early afternoon.
One of Trump’s closest and longest-serving confidantes, social media guru and senior adviser Dan Scavino, told The Independent that things were “looking good” when asked for his read on what verdict voters would render once the votes are all counted.
Man ‘smelling of fuel’ and carrying flare gun arrested at US Capitol on Election Day
The 28-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon as he entered the building through the Capitol Visitor Center. He had a torch, flare gun and lighter in his jacket as he tried to enter.
“Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC),” the US Capitol Police wrote in a statement. “The man smelled like fuel, had a torch & a flare gun.”
Harris campaign seeing enthusiasm among students and Puerto Rican voters in Pennsylvania
The Harris campaign is optimistic about the high turnout among Puerto Rican voters in Philadelphia.
They’re also seeing plenty of enthusiasm among college students, citing lines at one Pennsylvania university being up to seven hours long.
In North Carolina, rural Republican turnout is lower, according to a small sample of a few counties. Meanwhile, turnout is looking high in the city of Durham.
Three-quarters of voters have negative view of state of nation
About three-quarters of voters have a negative view of how things are progressing in the country, according to the CNN exit poll.
About one-quarter say they are enthusiastic or satisfied with the current situation in the US. More than four out of 10 say they’re dissatisfied while about three in 10 say they’re angry.
But at the same time, more than six out of 10 voters said America’s best days lay ahead, with about a third saying they’re in the past.
A majority disapprove of President Joe Biden’s job performance, with about four in 10 saying they approve.
Trump rants about Oprah and Fox News as he casts his vote in Palm Beach: ‘She should be ashamed’
Speaking as he cast his own vote on Tuesday, the Republican said Winfrey should be “ashamed” of herself for the comments.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” he told reporters. “Oprah, I was on one of her last show or one of her last shows and they pick the biggest people and all of that and made a big deal and actually, I’m disappointed. I think Oprah has become a major divider in our country and I think frankly she should be ashamed of herself.”
Source: independent.co.uk
