Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? On January 20, who will hold the power in America? Regardless of who becomes the resident of the White House this time, history will be made in the United States. Since yesterday morning, American voters have been casting their ballots to pave the way for that historic moment. Now, it’s just a wait for the results. It’s not just Americans, but people around the world are also eagerly awaiting. In the first votes cast at midnight, both candidates received three votes each.
Voting concluded this morning, Wednesday, Bangladesh time. Throughout the election day, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris was busy with radio interviews. Meanwhile, Republican candidate Donald Trump cast his vote in person at a center in Florida. President Joe Biden observed the election from the White House. Meanwhile, a polling station worker was arrested by the police for allegedly threatening a bomb attack at the polling center.
United States on the Path of History
If Kamala Harris wins, she will become the first woman, African American, and South Asian-origin President of the United States in the country’s 250-year history and in the 104 years since women gained the right to vote. On the other hand, if Trump wins, he will become the first president to be re-elected after surviving two impeachment trials. In other words, whoever wins will make history.
American experts are concerned that if Trump wins, the country’s law and order situation will remain normal. However, if he loses, there are fears of riots breaking out. This is due to Trump’s warning back in March that if he loses, there will be a “bloodbath” in the country. There are further concerns that Trump may declare himself the winner even before the final results are announced. If such a situation arises, it will be a disgraceful event in the country’s democratic history.
Earlier, after losing the 2020 presidential election, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Hill, making claims of electoral fraud. Trump faced legal charges in connection with that riot. He fought this election with the weight of those legal issues on his shoulders.
The World Awaits the Election Results
The U.S. election is seen as a vote that will determine the global order. As a result, not just Americans, but people from all over the world are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the election, which has a staggering cost of 1.5 billion dollars. Election observers believe that the race between Trump and Kamala Harris could be one of the most competitive in U.S. electoral history. In such a scenario, there is uncertainty about when the full results from all 50 states will be officially declared. In the 2020 presidential election, there was a tight race between Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden. The results were delayed due to complexities in vote counting in several states, including Nevada. The voting took place on November 3, and the official Electoral College result was announced on November 7. However, in 2012 and 2016, the results were declared within 48 hours.
The winner of the race between the two major contenders, Trump and Kamala Harris, will not be directly determined by voter turnout. Instead, the winner will be decided through individual state elections in the federal election battle. In states with a larger number of voters, the voting and counting process takes more time.
Excluding Maine and Nebraska, the candidate who secures 270 or more electoral votes from the remaining states will be declared the President. The running mate of that candidate will become the Vice President. On December 13, the electors will gather in their respective state capitals to cast their votes for the party’s candidate, officially concluding the presidential election process. However, the results will be announced before that.
State election authorities must submit the results to federal authorities by December 11. By December 25, the Senate President (currently Vice President Kamala Harris) must accept the certificates of electoral votes from each state. On January 6, Congress will count the votes and confirm the results. The inauguration of the new president will take place on January 20.
The voting began at 6:30 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday and is expected to end this morning. Following that, the vote counting will begin on a state-by-state basis. The first hint of results may emerge within hours. Exit polls may also provide some indication of who will win. The race is in such a state that, after declaring a winner, the results may need to be recounted. Pennsylvania, a swing state, is a prime example of this. If the difference in votes between the winning and losing candidates is less than half a percentage point, a recount will be required. In 2020, the margin was 1.1%. Legal battles may also arise, as Republican lawyers have already filed over 100 lawsuits before the election. If any disputes arise at the election centers, it could further delay the results.
Both Candidates Optimistic About Victory
On Monday, during the final campaign event in Philadelphia, Kamala Harris took the stage one last time. She declared, “We are all in this together to show what America stands for.” She confidently stated, “I am ready to be the next president,” adding that their campaign is aligned with the American people’s aspirations, desires, and dreams.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, during his final rally, Donald Trump emphasized the nation’s economy and immigration policies. He confidently said, “I believe we are going to get a great result.” Addressing the crowd, he added, “I think we’re going to win Michigan.” Both candidates expressed strong optimism about their chances of victory.
Source: Ittefaq
