Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump vs Harris: Live election 2024 results map

Follow along for live updates as the polls close Tuesday evening and the candidates race for 270 electoral votes

Alicja Hagopian
Data correspondent
,Alex Woodward,Katie Hawkinson
Tuesday 05 November 2024 20:35
Comments
How do exit polls work?

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Voters across America are casting their ballots for the 47th president of the United States.

Polls have started closing on the East Coast, and early projections show Republican candidate Donald Trump winning Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is projected to win Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Preliminary results are imminently expected in Georgia and North Carolina — two crucial swing states that both candidates are hoping to carry them to electoral victory.

Trump’s predicted victory in Florida marks his third consecutive win in the state, nabbing its 29 electoral votes, after Democratic former president Barack Obama carried the state in both 2008 and 2012.

Media outlets will begin making their projections for each state’s winner as election workers count ballots and voting data is released.The Independent is relying on projections from the Associated Press.

Check back this evening for live election updates from The Independent as exit poll data is released and the final ballots are cast.

Both candidates are gunning for 270 electoral votes, the golden number needed to secure the office of the presidency.

But it will likely take several hours for meaningful information to roll in. The first polling centers to close will shut their doors at 6 p.m. local time, while some polling centers will stay open until 8 p.m. local time, including many on the West Coast.

Experts previously told The Independent that the timeline for calling the race largely depends on two things: how close the election is in individual states and the specific laws of those states regarding counting votes and potential recounts, which all vary.

While outlets are expected to publish their final projections in the hours and days after November 5, their determination is only ever a projection. The election will be officially certified by Congress on January 6, 2025.

Voters ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue informing their voting decision, with the economy coming in second, according to exit polls from Edison Research for media outlets in the National Election Pool.

Traditionally, exit polls are conducted via in-person interviews with voters outside of polling centers after they’ve cast their ballot. Pollsters are posted outside of voting centers ahead of and on Election Day. They also conduct phone and text surveys to reach voters who mailed in their ballots.

Senate and House races

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election tonight.

In the Senate, only 34 out of 100 seats are being elected, as senators serve six-year terms with a third being elected every two years. The results of 2024’s elections will determine the balance of power in Congress.

West Virginia’s Republican Governor Jim Justice is projected to win a seat in the Senate, flipping a seat previously held by now-former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who is not seeking re-election.

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida is also projected to defeat Democratic opponent Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

Before this election, Democrats had 47 senators and four allied independents, while Republicans had 49.

Of the 34 seats up for grabs, 18 were previously held by Democratic senators, posing a threat to their slim majority.

Battling for the swing states

All eye are on the seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Together they hold 93 electoral college votes, without which neither presidential candidate can win the election.

Results will be refreshed live as they come in. Check back for updates.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in