US presidential election 2024: Harris pins hopes on 'blue wall' states as Democrats fret

The most significant state for winning elections in the US – its importance explained.

According to projections from CBS, a partner of BBC in the US, Donald Trump has achieved victories in North Carolina and Georgia, and he's also gaining an advantage over Kamala Harris in several key states that will ultimately determine the outcome of the US election.

CBS reports that Wisconsin appears to be leaning in favor of a Trump victory, and he's also holding a slight lead in the other Rust Belt states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan. However, these results are not yet conclusive.

As predicted, Trump has claimed victory in conservative areas ranging from Florida to Idaho, while Kamala Harris is dominating liberal states such as New York and California, according to projections by CBS.

In more positive developments for Trump, Republican candidates were moving closer to achieving a majority in the Senate.

Harris was anticipated to be at Howard University in Washington, DC, on election night, as it was her alma mater. However, it was revealed after midnight that she would not be present.

After campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond made the announcement, the crowd quickly vanished from the Harris headquarters located at the historically black college.

The celebratory vibe at Howard just a few hours ago quickly shifted as two key swing states were announced in favor of Trump.

According to CBS exit poll data, it appears that Harris may not have performed as well as expected among women voters.

According to the figures, approximately 54% of women voters chose her. In comparison, Joe Biden received backing from 57% of female voters in the 2020 election.

No matter the outcome, it will be a significant moment in history—either leading to the election of the first female president in the United States or signaling a major return to power for Trump.

Whoever wins the White House could find themselves limited by Congress, which is also up for election in Tuesday’s vote.

How voters in Georgia's swing areas are experiencing election day

CBS forecasts that the Republicans are likely to gain control of the Senate after taking two seats from the Democrats in West Virginia and Ohio, while also overcoming a strong challenge in Texas.

Neither side appeared to have a clear advantage in the House, which is under the narrow control of the Republicans.

The seven key states anticipated to influence the election results are Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

Preliminary findings indicate that the competition is extremely close in Arizona, while the counting process has only just started in Nevada, another key state in the Sun Belt region.

Approximately 86 million people voted early during what has been one of the most chaotic election campaigns in recent U.S. history.

Donald Trump votes in the U.S. election.

Vice President Harris, who is 60 years old, was only named the Democratic Party's candidate in July after President Joe Biden stepped back from the race due to internal pressure from the party.

At the age of 78, Trump was the focus of two assassination attempts, narrowly escaping a sniper's shot in Pennsylvania.

The ex-president expressed that he felt "quite assured" while casting his vote earlier on Tuesday close to their residence in Palm Beach, Florida, accompanied by his wife, Melania.

"I will be the first to admit it if I lose a fair election," he stated.

He recently shared on his social media site, Truth Social, that "law enforcement is on its way" to Philadelphia due to "widespread fraud."

Kamala Harris engages in phone conversations with voters.

The police department in Philadelphia informed BBC Verify that they had no knowledge of any electoral fraud taking place. The city's lead prosecutor stated that the claims lacked any factual support.

Each side has a team of lawyers ready to tackle any legal disputes that may arise on or after election day.

Elon Musk, the wealthiest person on the planet and a major contributor to Trump’s campaign, is spending election night with the Republican candidate at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Should Harris secure the victory, she would make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian American to hold the presidency.

If Trump were to win again, he would make history as the first president in over 130 years to serve non-consecutive terms. Additionally, he holds the unique distinction of being the only president to face impeachment twice and is the first former president to face criminal charges.

A Brief Overview of the US Presidential Campaign in Just 180 Seconds

CBS's exit polling indicates that approximately one-third of voters identified the state of democracy as their main concern among the five choices presented.

The economy came in second place, with 30% of voters selecting it, based on the initial results.

Abortion and immigration were the next topics on the list, while foreign policy was considered the least significant.

Police departments across the country are on heightened alert for possible acts of violence.

On Tuesday, there were approximately 30 false bomb threats aimed at sites connected to the elections across the country, with over half occurring in Georgia, according to CBS.