The much-awaited U.S. presidential election has officially commenced, capturing global attention as millions of Americans head to the polls. On Tuesday, voters gathered at polling centers nationwide to elect the 47th President of the United States, with voting running from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, concluding at 9 a.m. Wednesday IST.
Out of an estimated 160 million registered voters, over 82 million have already exercised their right through early voting—marking an unprecedented level of participation that surpasses half of all votes cast in the last election. The presidential race is notably tight between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, with initial results in the smallest polling site, Dixville Notch, showing an exact tie, each candidate securing three votes.
Swing states, including Georgia and North Carolina, have seen record-breaking early voter turnout. In Florida, Trump cast his vote alongside First Lady Melania before returning to his estate, while Harris opted to vote by mail from California.
In Georgia, with over 4 million early votes cast, polling sites appeared quieter than expected. Predictions indicate early voting saw a larger Republican turnout. Meanwhile, in cities like Houston, Omaha, and Nebraska, voters lined up under umbrellas in the rain, undeterred in their determination to participate in this historic election.
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