American voters are set to deliver their verdict on Tuesday in an extraordinary election that could either make Kamala Harris the first woman president in U.S. history or facilitate Donald Trump’s comeback, sending shockwaves around the world.
As polling stations open nationwide on Election Day, Democratic Vice President Harris, 60, and Republican former President Trump, 78, are locked in a dead heat in what is considered one of the tightest and most volatile White House races in modern history.
In the final day of campaigning, both rivals frantically worked to mobilize their supporters and sway undecided voters in swing states that are expected to determine the outcome.
Despite a series of dramatic twists in this unprecedented campaign—ranging from Harris’s sudden rise following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal in July to Trump overcoming two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction—public opinion polls have shown no clear leader.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. (1100 GMT) on the U.S. East Coast, with tens of millions of voters expected to cast their ballots in addition to the more than 82 million people who voted early in the preceding weeks.
If the results are as close as predicted, a final outcome may not be known for several days, adding to the tension in a deeply divided nation. Concerns about potential turmoil and violence have heightened, especially if Trump contests the results as he did in 2020, prompting increased security around the White House and businesses in Washington.
The global community is also watching closely, as the election outcome could significantly impact conflicts in the Middle East, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and efforts to tackle climate change—a concept Trump has dismissed as a hoax.
**‘Every Single Vote Matters’**
Harris and Trump are effectively tied in the seven critical swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
On the eve of the election, Harris focused her efforts on Pennsylvania, rallying at the Philadelphia steps made famous in the “Rocky” movie. She declared, “Momentum is on our side,” while emphasizing the importance of every vote. Notably, she was joined by celebrities including Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.
Trump, who would become the first convicted felon and the oldest person to win the presidency, positioned himself as the only solution to what he described as an apocalyptic decline of the nation. “With your vote tomorrow, we can fix every single problem our country faces and lead America—and indeed the world—to new heights of glory,” he told supporters at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after campaigning in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Harris countered by highlighting her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans across the country, a key issue for women voters. While she struck an optimistic tone, she notably refrained from directly mentioning Trump, focusing instead on rallying her base.
**A Historic Decision**
A Trump comeback would be historic, marking the first non-consecutive second term for a U.S. president since Grover Cleveland in 1893. Such a return would likely fuel international instability, alarming U.S. allies in Europe and NATO who are concerned about his isolationist “America First” policies.
Conversely, a Harris victory would make her the first Black woman and South Asian president in U.S. history and could signal an end to the Trump era that has dominated American politics for nearly a decade.
Although Trump has stated he would not seek election again in 2028, he has yet to concede that he lost the 2020 election fairly. The lingering trauma from his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the election results remains a heavy weight on the nation. In the campaign’s final days, Trump raised unfounded claims of election fraud and expressed regret about “ever leaving” the White House.
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