The world’s eyes are fixed on the United States this Tuesday as one of the most consequential elections in American history takes place. Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump faces off against Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
According to The Washington Post, American voters are heading to the polls to choose the nation’s next president, with global anticipation running high. The election’s outcome is expected to resonate far and wide.
Polls opened in the Eastern states, like Vermont and New Hampshire, at around 6 a.m. local time, while in Western regions like Alaska and Hawaii, polls will remain open later due to time zone differences. The first polling stations will close at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with the last ones closing at 1 a.m. the following day.
Harris’ campaign has suggested that the final results could take days, warning of potential attempts to sow confusion or doubt regarding election integrity.
Tiebreaker Scenario
Polls show a tight race, raising questions about a potential tie, with each candidate possibly receiving 269 electoral votes. The U.S. Constitution addresses this rare case: if no candidate secures a majority, the House of Representatives selects the president, while the Senate chooses the vice president.
This scenario could unfold if Harris wins states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, while Trump takes Arizona and North Carolina. The only tie in U.S. history occurred in 1800, leading to the 12th Amendment, which established the current electoral procedure.
