American voters head to the polls on Tuesday in a pivotal presidential election that could either elevate Kamala Harris as the first woman president in US history or bring about a dramatic return to power for Donald Trump.
The race between the Democratic vice president, 60, and the 78-year-old former Republican president has been marked by unprecedented twists and remains one of the tightest and most volatile in modern US history.
With polling stations opening at 6:00 am Eastern Time (1100 GMT), the nation braces for a conclusion as more than 82 million early votes have already been cast. Yet, the final outcome may not be immediately clear if the results are as close as the polls suggest, potentially prolonging uncertainty and heightening fears of unrest.
The possibility of violence looms large, especially if Trump contests the results as he did in 2020, prompting businesses in Washington to board up windows and authorities to install barriers around the White House.
Harris and Trump are virtually tied in crucial battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where the smallest margins could decide the election. Both candidates made a final push on Monday to energize their supporters.
Harris campaigned in Philadelphia, rallying voters on the iconic “Rocky” steps and emphasizing the importance of every single vote. Celebrities like Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey joined her, as Harris declared that “momentum is on our side” and highlighted her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans, a key issue for women voters.
Trump spent his closing day in Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, presenting himself as the only solution to what he described as the nation’s decline, punctuated by threats of “savage” migration. Addressing a crowd at a packed arena in Grand Rapids, he promised that with their votes, the country could reach “new heights of glory.” His apocalyptic rhetoric contrasted sharply with Harris’s optimistic tone, and he positioned himself as the lone savior, despite his history-making status as a convicted felon seeking a return to the presidency.
The stakes of the election extend far beyond US borders. A Harris win would represent a historic breakthrough, making her the first Black woman and South Asian president and effectively closing a turbulent chapter in American politics dominated by Trump. Meanwhile, a Trump comeback could cause international reverberations, with European allies wary of his isolationist “America First” policies and trading partners anxious over his threats of new tariffs.
Adding to the drama, the campaign was upended by major events, including Harris stepping into the race after President Joe Biden withdrew in July, and Trump surviving two assassination attempts while facing legal troubles, including a criminal conviction. Yet, none of these moments broke the deadlock in public opinion, leaving the country deeply divided and setting the stage for an election day charged with suspense.
As election workers prepared mail-in ballots in states like California, Michigan, and Georgia, Harris maintained a forward-looking message, focusing on policy while largely avoiding direct attacks on Trump.
Nevertheless, she has accused him of threatening democracy with his inflammatory rhetoric and promises of retribution against political adversaries. Trump’s narrative, meanwhile, has leaned heavily on claims of election fraud, as he insists he should have never left the White House after his 2020 loss to Biden.
The world watches anxiously, understanding the significant global stakes, from the Middle East and Ukraine to climate change, which Trump has consistently dismissed as a hoax.
The outcome of this election will determine not only the course of US domestic policy but also its role on the global stage.
