Thu Oct 31 07:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Harris and Trump Neck and Neck in Tight Presidential Race

With less than a week until Election Day, the US presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is tightening, with both candidates vying for control of key swing states.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s polling tracker, Harris holds a narrow lead nationwide by 1.5 percentage points, although Trump has closed the gap significantly. Reuters/Ipsos polling shows Harris leading by just one percentage point, a margin within the margin of error.

While Harris enjoys a slight advantage in national polls, the electoral college outcome remains uncertain, echoing the unpredictability of past elections.

**Electoral College System**

The United States uses an Electoral College system to choose its president, where voters elect a group of “electors” from their state who are pledged to vote for a specific presidential and vice-presidential candidate based on the state’s vote. To win the presidency, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes out of a total of 538.

This system can lead to unexpected results, as seen in 2016 when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote by almost 3 million votes.

**Potential for Delayed Results**

The final results of the election may not be known immediately on election night, especially with an increase in mail-in and absentee ballots. Some states allow mail-in ballots to be counted even if they arrive after Election Day, potentially leading to delayed outcomes in close races.

Trump may attempt to exploit these delays by spreading false claims of election fraud, as he did in 2020.

**Key Swing States**

Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona are considered key swing states where the race is extremely close. The outcome in these states could determine the winner of the election.

**Contested Election**

If neither candidate wins 270 electoral votes, a contingent election will be held. The House of Representatives will elect the president, with each state receiving one vote, while the Senate will elect the vice president. A majority vote (at least 26 states) is needed to win the presidential election. This rare process last occurred in 1824 when John Quincy Adams was elected president after Andrew Jackson won the popular vote and electoral votes but failed to secure a majority.

**A Close Race**

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a close race with no clear frontrunner. As the country heads to the polls, the focus will be on key swing states and the potential for a delayed outcome. It will be a race watched closely by Americans and the world as the nation elects its next leader.

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