Kathmandu: Today, the United States is holding its presidential election, a highly anticipated event watched closely around the world. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are locked in a fierce competition. The election provides an opportunity for Americans to choose the nation’s highest leadership, with Harris representing a chance for the first woman of Black and Asian heritage to hold the office. Should Harris win, it would mark a historic achievement in U.S. politics. Conversely, a victory for Trump would grant him a second term as president.
The president of the United States has significant freedom in representing the nation on the global stage and shaping foreign policy. Alongside the presidential vote, U.S. citizens will also elect members of Congress, further shaping the country’s governance.
On the final day of campaigning on Monday, Trump, the Republican candidate, and Harris, the Democratic candidate, delivered closing messages to voters. Both candidates focused heavily on key battleground states. Harris campaigned in Pennsylvania, while Trump wrapped up his campaign by visiting Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan. Trump also held a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, where he reiterated his commitment to tightening immigration policies, including deporting undocumented immigrants, whom he has previously labeled as “dangerous criminals.”
What Do Polls Say?
Pre-election surveys indicate a tight race, with recent polls suggesting both candidates have an almost equal chance of winning. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday, Harris holds a narrow lead with 50% compared to Trump’s 49%. Similarly, an ABC News survey shows both candidates tied nationally at 49%.
Polls reveal a notable gender gap, with many male voters favoring Trump, while a significant number of female voters lean toward Harris. Trump has a lead of 45-54% among male voters, whereas Harris holds a lead of 43-55% among female voters. Surveys also suggest that male voters are more likely to view Trump as a “strong leader,” while female voters are inclined to see Harris as having the “mental and cognitive health” needed for the presidency.
An analysis by FiveThirtyEight’s daily poll tracker indicates that Harris leads Trump nationally by a slight margin of 1.4%. Long-term trends, however, underscore how close the election remains, with seven swing states likely to determine the outcome.
Record Early Voting
A record 75 million Americans have already voted by mail. Many states offer early voting options, including mail-in ballots, for those who cannot vote in person on Election Day. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, 244 million Americans are eligible to vote this year, though actual turnout remains to be seen.
A total of 538 electoral college votes are distributed among the 50 states, and a candidate needs at least 270 votes to win the presidency. According to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, as of Sunday afternoon, more than 41 million Americans had voted in person or by mail.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Kamala Harris, 59, was born in Oakland, California, to an Indian mother and Jamaican father. She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., before earning her law degree from the University of California. Harris began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, later becoming San Francisco’s District Attorney in 2003, and was elected California’s Attorney General in 2010, holding a top law enforcement role in the state.
Harris Emerges as Leading Critic of Trump’s Immigration Policies
Kamala Harris has become one of the foremost critics of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Her tough questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 bolstered her reputation as one of the rising stars within the Democratic Party. Many experts believe that the U.S. should be prepared for its first Black female president, a historic milestone Harris could achieve if she wins the presidency.
Meanwhile, Trump is determined to secure a second term as president, addressing a rally in Atlanta on Monday after speaking to a gathering of a thousand pastors and religious leaders. At these events, Trump emphasized economic issues, a core theme of his campaign. Georgia, a battleground state with 16 electoral college votes, remains crucial; while Trump won there in the 2016 election, he narrowly lost the state in 2020.
