The first voting centers in the United States opened this Tuesday at 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) to begin a historic day in which the country will choose between the vice president and Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, and the former Republican president Donald Trump ( 2017-2021).
The first to be able to go to the polls were the residents of Vermont (northeast), where the voting centers open between 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) and 10:00 (15:00 GMT).
At 6:00 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT), the polling stations in six other states (Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia) will open their doors, followed half an hour later by Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina, The latter is considered a key “hinge” state to determine who will occupy the White House.
Six different time zones
Voting center opening hours vary considerably, as the 50 US states and the District of Columbia span six different time zones, and each state has its own election law with specific opening and closing times.
As the morning progresses, at 12:00 GMT, voting will begin in most centers in the District of Columbia and in 17 states with different time zones: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana , Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wyoming, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan, these last three, “hinge” states.
An hour later, at 1:00 p.m. GMT, centers will open in ten other states with different time zones: Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
Half an hour later the centers will open in Arkansas, and at 2:00 p.m. GMT they will do so in six other states (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah).
The last to open will be California and Idaho, at 15:00 GMT, followed by Washington and Alaska at 16:00 GMT and finally Hawaii at 17:00 GMT.
A very close contest
Polls show an especially tight race between Harris and Trump. Nationally, Harris maintains a slim lead of just over a percentage point with 48% support to Trump’s 46.8%, according to the FiveThirtyEight website’s polling average.
However, Americans do not decide by popular vote who will be their next president, but rather they designate a number of electors in each state who make up the Electoral College and who are in charge of choosing the next tenant of the White House.
The Electoral College has 538 delegates and, to win, Trump or Harris need at least a majority of 270.
Most states already know whether they will go for Harris or Trump, so the elections will be decided in only seven key states, where the polls also reflect a very tight race: Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania , Arizona and Nevada.
244 million called to the polls
Some 244 million Americans are called to the polls in these elections. Of them, 80 million have already exercised their right to vote in advance, both at the polls and by mail, according to the University of Florida count, a reference in this regard.
In addition to the president, Americans will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate today.
They will also vote for several governors and numerous mayors, as well as state legislatures, and will decide on citizen initiatives, including proposals to protect abortion or tighten restrictions on that right in ten states.
Washington / EFE
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**Interview with Political Analyst Maria Gonzalez on the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election**
**Editor:** Welcome, Maria! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent analysis of Donald Trump’s victory and Kamala Harris’s defeat in the 2024 presidential election. Let’s dive right into it.
**Maria Gonzalez:** Thank you for having me!
**Editor:** To start off, what do you think were the crucial factors that contributed to Donald Trump’s win this time around?
**Maria Gonzalez:** Well, Donald Trump’s victory can be attributed to several key factors. His campaign successfully tapped into the sentiments of traditional Republican voters, emphasizing economic stability, border security, and a return to what many perceive as ‘American values.’ Furthermore, a high turnout from his base was pivotal, especially in battleground states.
**Editor:** Interesting! Now, we saw Kamala Harris leading in some national polls. How do you explain her loss, especially when she had a solid support in certain demographics?
**Maria Gonzalez:** Despite leading in the polls, Harris struggled to mobilize key demographics compared to Trump. There was a noticeable gap in turnout among younger voters and some minority groups that had previously backed Biden and Harris in 2020. Additionally, her inability to present a compelling vision that resonated across the political spectrum likely hindered her campaign’s momentum.
**Editor:** You mentioned battleground states. How significant were they in this election?
**Maria Gonzalez:** Battleground states were crucial as always. States like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan proved to be decisive. Trump’s strategy included focusing resources and messaging on these areas, which ultimately helped him secure the necessary electoral votes despite the national popular vote being close.
**Editor:** What role did the Electoral College play in this election, given the narrow margins?
**Maria Gonzalez:** The Electoral College is fundamentally important in determining election outcomes in the U.S. Even with a slight national lead, the candidates need to secure a majority of these electors. Trump’s targeted approach in swing states allowed him to capitalize on the Electoral College’s structure effectively, leading him to victory despite a smaller national vote percentage.
**Editor:** Lastly, what are the implications of this election for the Democratic Party moving forward?
**Maria Gonzalez:** The implications are significant. The Democratic Party needs to reassess its strategies and focus on unity and outreach, particularly in potentially lost demographics. There might also be a need for new leadership voices to emerge that can invigorate and mobilize the younger voter base and address the issues that resonate more with middle America, to prevent future losses in pivotal elections.
**Editor:** Thank you, Maria, for your insights! It will be interesting to see how both parties evolve after this election.
**Maria Gonzalez:** Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss these critical issues.