Americans head to polls in one of the closest knife-edge elections in history

Election Day has arrived in the United States, with millions of Americans casting their votes in what may be one of the closest races in recent history. 

The two major candidates, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, are locked in a tense battle, showing almost equal support in recent polls.

This year, the stakes are high. Both candidates have spent weeks campaigning heavily, especially in key swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina. 

In these states, polls are too close to call, and no clear favorite has emerged. Many experts believe that whoever wins Pennsylvania, a crucial "Rust Belt" state, will have a strong chance at taking the White House.

In a last push, Trump held rallies across Pennsylvania, a state he sees as critical to his path to victory. Speaking to supporters in Reading, he said, “If we win Pennsylvania, we win it all.” 

Trump, 78, urged voters to choose between what he called a “golden age of America” if he wins or “four more years of misery” under Harris.

Harris, 60, also focused on Pennsylvania, wrapping up her campaign in Philadelphia on Monday night. She was joined by singer Lady Gaga and TV personality Oprah Winfrey, who rallied the crowd, emphasizing the importance of this election. Winfrey warned, “We don’t get to sit this one out. If we don’t show up, we might lose our chance to vote ever again.”

Unlike many other countries, the U.S. does not determine its winner by the popular vote. Instead, each state has a set number of electoral votes based on its population size. The first candidate to reach 270 electoral votes wins. The closest races are expected to be in swing states, where either candidate could win.

Despite a large number of early votes—over 78 million ballots cast so far—the final results might not be clear immediately. The race is so tight that the outcomes in key swing states could take days to fully count. It’s possible that results won’t be available on Tuesday night or even Wednesday, leaving voters and the world anxiously awaiting the final outcome.

This election ends a long and often difficult campaign that has deeply divided the nation. Many Americans feel stressed, and some experts fear possible unrest, especially if Harris wins and Trump contests the results.

Throughout her campaign, Harris has highlighted the threat she believes Trump poses to democracy. Her final rally in Washington, D.C., drew a crowd of 75,000 people. Speaking to her supporters, Harris emphasized her dedication to the people. “On day one, Donald Trump would walk into office with an enemies list,” she said. “I will walk in with a to-do list of priorities for the American people.”

Harris has portrayed her campaign as a chance to turn the page on the Trump era. She has criticized Trump’s approach, calling him a threat to unity and fairness. Her platform promises a vision that, according to her, represents all Americans, no matter their political stance.

Trump’s campaign has focused on different issues. He has described the country as being in crisis, highlighting topics like immigration and the economy. Trump claims Democrats have led the country into hardship with high inflation and policies he describes as divisive. His campaign has often used harsh language to describe undocumented immigrants, calling them a danger to the nation.

This heated language and intense campaigning have fueled fears of possible unrest on Election Day, particularly if the results are delayed or disputed. In recent weeks, early voting drop boxes have been destroyed in some states, sparking even more concerns about election security.

At the same time, Trump himself was the target of two assassination attempts during the campaign. In one incident, a bullet grazed his ear at a rally in Pennsylvania. Another attempt involved a gunman who was stopped by Secret Service at a golf course in Florida. While these attackers didn’t have clear political motives, the incidents added to the tense atmosphere surrounding the election.