Counting has begun for the US elections; US networks have projected that Donald Trump is winning 23 states and Kamala Harris 11. As for electoral college numbers, which will determine the winner in this election, the former President is ahead with 248 votes and Harris trails with 214. Each candidate is aiming for the magic figure of 270 electoral college votes.
These projections are from partisan states that have historically voted either Democratic or Republican and do not include the seven battleground or swing states that hold the key to this election. Current trends show Trump has won in two swing states and leading in the rest.
The seven swing or battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin are expected to effectively decide who will be the 47th President of the United States. The contest between Trump and Harris has been a fiercely fought one and both sides appeared to be in a dead heat even on Tuesday, which was the day of voting.
Exit polls showed that the state of democracy and the economy, and abortion were the most important issues for American voters heading into the election. A poll conducted by CBS News revealed that almost six in 10 people ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue, followed by abortion, which was picked by five per cent of voters as an important issue. Economy was picked as a priority issue by one in ten.
An exit poll by CNN said nearly three-quarters of the electorate holds a negative view of the way things are going in the US today. Only about a quarter said they were enthusiastic or satisfied with the state of the nation, with more than four in 10 dissatisfied and roughly 30% saying they are angry, according to the poll.
(With PTI inputs)
