Final Countdown for US election: Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in key states – Who will claim the White House? – World News

With just two days remaining before the US presidential election, the final New York Times/Siena College poll shows a razor-thin race between Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump. Both candidates are campaigning intensively in seven crucial battleground states that are expected to determine the next president.

Poll Reveals Marginal Leads and Tight Margins

According to the New York Times/Siena College poll, Harris holds narrow leads in Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, while Trump has a slight edge in Arizona. The two are locked in extremely close contests in Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The poll surveyed 7,879 likely voters across these key states between October 24 and November 2 and revealed that the contests are within the poll’s 3.5% margin of error, making them statistically tied.

Notably, Harris leads by 8 percentage points among those who have already cast their ballots, representing around 40 per cent of respondents. However, Trump holds an advantage among voters who are still likely to vote before Election Day, indicating that the race could shift further based on late-turnout dynamics.

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Pennsylvania Sees Tight Race, as Trump Gains Momentum

In Pennsylvania, a state Harris previously led by four points in earlier polls, Trump appears to be gaining momentum. The tied race signals a shift that could be pivotal in the outcome of the election. Pennsylvania is one of the largest electoral prizes among the battleground states, with 19 Electoral College votes, making it a primary focus for both campaigns.

Trump plans to make appearances in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia on Sunday, while Harris will focus on campaigning in Michigan, another crucial battleground state. Both candidates’ packed schedules underscore the importance of securing votes in these states, which collectively hold enough Electoral College votes to decide the election.

The Seven Battleground States: Crucial Timelines on Election Day

The seven battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—will be crucial on Election Day. Together, these states span four different time zones, with polling times staggered across each to ensure comprehensive voting coverage. Here is a look at the expected timeline for these key states:

• Arizona: Polls open at 8 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET. Arizona has historically taken longer to release results, waiting for all precincts to report or for one hour post-poll closing. In 2020, Arizona was called by The Associated Press at 2:51 a.m. ET the morning after Election Day.
• Georgia: Polls open at 7 a.m. ET and close at 7 p.m. ET. Georgia played a critical role in 2020, narrowly going for Biden. Trump’s efforts to contest the state’s results remain at the heart of a legal case. In 2020, Georgia’s results were not finalized until nearly three weeks after Election Day.
• Michigan: Polls open at 7 a.m. ET in Michigan, a former “blue wall” state that went for Trump in 2016 but shifted to Biden in 2020. Polls in Michigan close at 8 p.m. ET, with parts of the state closing at 9 p.m. ET. In the last election, Michigan’s results were announced the day after Election Day.
• Nevada: Polls open at 10 a.m. ET, with results delayed until the last person in line has voted. Nevada has voted for the winning candidate in 27 of the last 30 presidential elections, making it a critical bellwether state.
• North Carolina: Polls open at 6:30 a.m. ET and close at 7:30 p.m. ET. Trump won North Carolina by a slim margin in 2020, making it a competitive ground for both parties.
• Pennsylvania: Polls open at 7 a.m. ET and close at 8 p.m. ET. Pennsylvania’s large number of electoral votes makes it one of the most contested states in this election cycle. In 2020, it took nearly four days to declare a winner.
• Wisconsin: Polls open at 8 a.m. ET and close at 9 p.m. ET. Wisconsin’s electoral history is marked by close races, with margins of less than 1 per cent in several past elections.

Both Harris and Trump have spent considerable time in these battleground states, which hold the keys to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency. If Harris can maintain her leads and secure a few of the states in the toss-up category, she could pave her path to the White House. However, if Trump’s momentum in Pennsylvania and the late-deciding voters favour him, he could clinch enough states to reclaim the presidency.

The pressure on both campaigns is high, as the outcome of this election may come down to the smallest margins in each of these battleground states. With high stakes and voter turnout projected to be significant, the results will likely reflect a deeply divided country. As Election Day approaches, the tight race between Harris and Trump underscores the critical importance of each state and each vote in shaping America’s future trajectory.

(With agency inputs)

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