As the country held its breath, the United States witnessed a fiercely contested presidential election between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Each side was vying for the 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch victory, but by the early hours of Wednesday, results from key swing states were still too close to determine a winner, signaling a fierce battle for the White House.
While Harris cemented her position in Democratic strongholds in the Northeast such as Maine, Massachusetts and New York, Donald Trump made significant inroads into traditionally Republican regions, capturing much of the South and Midwest, including states such as Tennessee, Oklahoma and Indiana.
The final outcome of this crucial election is likely to hinge on seven key swing states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada. High voter turnout, both in person and by mail, has made the situation even more unpredictable, with more than 83 million Americans having already cast early ballots, according to data from the University of Florida Election Lab.
However, early voting results could paint a distorted picture of the situation, recalling the scenario from the previous election, when Donald Trump initially took the lead in some states, only to be overtaken by Joe Biden as mail-in votes were counted in the days that followed.
Polls have been closing at staggered times, with most ending Election Day on Tuesday night. However, results in states like Pennsylvania and Arizona may not be finalized until Wednesday or later in the week as mail-in ballots continue to be processed.
Nevada, in particular, has provisions to count mail-in votes mailed on Election Day through November 9, which could prolong the suspense. The tight race has also fueled excitement in the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin surging to over $75,000 as Donald Trump’s favorable results became clearer Tuesday night.
Crypto investors are closely watching the outcome of the election, as Trump has promised to ease regulatory constraints on the sector, in a clear contrast to the Biden administration’s restrictive stance. Some speculate that a Trump victory could send Bitcoin even higher, possibly surpassing $80,000.
As Americans and observers around the world await final results, both sides are bracing for a possible extension of the vote count and the possibility that one candidate could challenge the legitimacy of late-arriving mail-in ballots, a situation that could heighten post-election tensions.
This uncertain election has exposed deep divisions in American society and underscored the critical importance of every citizen’s vote. As the final results are awaited, any challenge to the results could have lasting implications for the country’s political stability.