US Elections 2024 Live Updates: Harris and Trump Gear Up for Final Showdown Before Election Day

Harris says she has cast her mail-in vote in US election
 

Former President Donald Trump has concluded his rally in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He will now head to Kinston, North Carolina for another rally, after which he'll head to Macon, Georgia for another rally. 

Trump has said that if he is elected, he will end inflation. The US economy has been struggling with inflation for quite some time and the Fed had to raise interest rates to fight inflation. Since then, inflation has cooled down and the Fed has started reducing the interest rate. 

“I will end inflation, I will bring back the American dream. America will be bigger, better, and stronger than even before,” Trump said. “I am asking you to dream big,” he added. 

At a rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump said that “they (the Democrats) want to cheat. The world is laughing at us”. Donald Trump and many Republicans believe that the Democrats collaborated with BigTech ahead of the 2020 elections, to tilt the playing field. 

Trump also added that “our country is a crooked country. I will make it straight”. 

Former US President Donald Trump has criticized the press as “seriously corrupt people”. He went on to say that “To get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news, and I don’t mind that so much".

Public trust in American media is at an all-time low.  

After the release of Ann Seltzer's controversial poll, a storm has erupted amongst pundits on social media. The poll, surprisingly, claims Harris is leading Trump in Iowa, a state Trump won in 2016 and 2020. Earlier in the day, Trump's campaign criticized the poll. Now, Trump himself is criticizing it. 

“We got all this crap going on with the press and with the fake stuff and fake polls. The polls are just as corrupt as some of the writers back there," he said. 

Former President Donald Trump is currently addressing a rally in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is a crucial swing state. Trump won the state in 2016 but lost it in 2020. 

The Trump campaign has said that the controversial Ann Seltzer poll, which claimed that Harris was leading Trump in Iowa (a state which isn't a swing state and a state that Trump won in 2016 and 2020), is designed to suppress GOP voters. 

“Some in the media are choosing to amplify a mad dash to dampen and diminish voter enthusiasm. It has not worked. Our voters are like President Trump: they fight," reads a memo from the Trump campaign. 

The U.S. Electoral College is a unique system used to elect the president and vice president. Unlike a direct national popular vote, the Electoral College uses a state-based voting process designed to balance representation across the country. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the Electoral College works, why it was created, and the factors that influence its outcomes:

1. How the Electoral College Works

The Electoral College is a process and it involves several steps:

Electoral Votes Allocation: Each state is allocated a number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress. This total is the sum of its two senators and its representatives in the House, which varies with population. For instance, California, the most populous state, has 54 electoral votes, while smaller states like Vermont and Wyoming have only 3.

Total Electoral Votes: There are 538 total electoral votes, comprising 435 for House representatives, 100 for senators, and 3 for the District of Columbia (thanks to the 23rd Amendment).

Majority Required to Win: A candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

State-Level Contests: When voters in each state cast ballots for president, they are technically voting for a slate of electors chosen by their party to represent them in the Electoral College. The winner of the popular vote in each state (in nearly all cases) claims all of that state’s electoral votes—a system known as “winner-takes-all.” Only Maine and Nebraska use a different system, splitting their electoral votes between statewide winners and winners in individual congressional districts.

2. Casting and Counting Electoral Votes

Electors Meet in December: After the general election in November, electors meet in each state capital in December to cast their electoral votes for president and vice president. These votes are then sent to Congress.

Certification by Congress: In early January, a joint session of Congress formally counts the electoral votes. The vice president, acting as president of the Senate, announces the results and officially declares the winner of the election if a candidate has achieved a majority (270 or more) of the electoral votes.

If No Majority Is Reached: If no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives, where each state delegation has one vote. This happened in 1800 and 1824.

3. The Origins and Purpose of the Electoral College

Balancing Interests Between States: America's Founding Fathers created the Electoral College to balance the interests of populous and less populous states. By giving every state at least three electoral votes regardless of population, smaller states have a slightly amplified voice.

Fear of Direct Democracy: The founders were concerned that direct democracy could lead to “mob rule” and wanted to create a safeguard against uninformed voting. They believed the Electoral College would ensure that a select group of individuals—educated and informed—would formally elect the president.

Compromise on Slavery: The Electoral College also partly reflects a compromise related to slavery. Slave-holding states had a disproportionate influence because enslaved individuals were counted (albeit as three-fifths of a person) for determining the number of representatives, even though they could not vote.

4. Impact of the Electoral College on Campaigns

Focus on Swing States: The Electoral College tends to draw candidates’ focus to “swing” or “battleground” states—those where the vote is closely contested. States like Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin often receive more attention and resources because their electoral votes can swing either way, deciding the election outcome.

Neglect of “Safe” States: States that are reliably Republican (e.g., Alabama, Wyoming) or Democratic (e.g., California, New York) often receive less attention during campaigns because their outcomes are seen as predictable. This can leave large portions of the population feeling overlooked in national elections.

5. Pros and Cons of the Electoral College

Pros

• Balance Between Populous and Less Populous States: By not allowing the most populous states to entirely control election outcomes, the Electoral College system theoretically balances urban and rural interests.
• Political Stability: The “winner-takes-all” approach in most states tends to lead to decisive outcomes, reducing the chances of contested elections.
• Regional Representation: Since each state has a certain degree of importance, presidential candidates must consider regional issues.

Cons

• Possible Mismatch Between Popular Vote and Electoral Vote: The candidate who wins the popular vote does not always win the presidency, as happened in 2000 and 2016. This can create a sense that the system does not accurately represent the will of the people.
• Focus on Swing States Only: Candidates often ignore “safe” states and focus primarily on swing states, which distorts representation.
• Potential for “Faithless Electors”: Electors are expected to vote according to their state’s popular vote, but in rare cases, “faithless electors” cast votes against the popular will.

6. Controversies and Proposed Reforms

Popular Vote Movement: One reform proposal is to shift to a national popular vote, where the candidate with the most individual votes wins. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among several states to award their electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, but it only takes effect if enough states (representing at least 270 electoral votes) join.

Proportional Allocation of Electoral Votes: Another proposal suggests moving all states to a system like Maine and Nebraska, where electoral votes are split according to congressional district results rather than statewide totals. This could more accurately reflect voter preferences in each state.

7. How the Electoral College Shapes Election Results

Voting Patterns: The Electoral College makes certain voting blocs more influential. For instance, a few thousand voters in a swing state can determine the entire state’s electoral votes, giving them a significant impact on the national result.

Potential for a Contingent Election: In a very close race or a situation where third-party candidates win electoral votes, neither major candidate may reach 270 votes, leading to a contingent election decided by the House of Representatives.

8. Recent Examples of Electoral College Outcomes

2000 Election: George W. Bush won the presidency by a margin of electoral votes despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore. Florida’s recount controversy highlighted the Electoral College’s decisive role.

2016 Election: Donald Trump won the presidency with 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 227, despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. The result revived debates about the Electoral College’s legitimacy.

2020 Election: Joe Biden won 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump’s 232, reflecting both a decisive popular vote and electoral vote win. The 2020 election saw some of the highest voter turnout in recent history, showing how changes in voter demographics can influence electoral outcomes.

9. Key Takeaways on the Electoral College

• The Electoral College is a foundational, albeit controversial, component of the U.S. electoral system. It represents a balance between direct democracy and federalism, providing each state a voice in electing the president.
• While it has some benefits, like encouraging candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters, it also has significant downsides, such as the potential for the popular vote to diverge from the electoral outcome.
• Proposals for reform reflect ongoing debates about the best way to ensure fair and representative elections in the United States.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are locked in a close contest across the nation’s seven critical battleground states, according to the final New York Times/Siena College poll. The poll indicates Harris holds slight leads in Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, while Trump is narrowly ahead in Arizona. The race remains highly competitive in Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, where results are also within the poll’s 3.5% margin of error.

Surveying 7,879 likely voters across these states from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2, the poll shows about 40% have already cast their ballots, with Harris leading this group by 8 points. However, Trump has the advantage among those who are highly likely to vote but have not yet done so.

The neck-and-neck race in Pennsylvania reflects Trump’s recent gains in a state where Harris previously held a steady four-point lead in earlier New York Times polls, the outlet noted.

Hungary's PM, Viktor Orban, who is an supporter of Donald Trump, has said that Europe must reconsider support to Ukraine, if Trump wins the election. 

“We (in Europe) need to realize that if there will be a pro-peace president in America, which I not only believe in but I also read the numbers that way, ... if what we expect happens and America becomes pro-peace, then Europe cannot remain pro-war,” he said. 

“Europe cannot bear the burden of [the war] alone, and if Americans switch to peace, then we also need to adapt,” he added. 

Donald Trump's campaign has said that the Ann Seltzer poll on Iowa, which shows Harris leading Trump, is an outlier. The campaign has pointed out that other polls, such as the Emerson College poll, show Trump leading Harris by 10 points. 

According to a poll by Ann Seltzer, Kamala Harris has gained an unexpected lead over Donald Trump in the state of Iowa. This is quite stunning because Iowa is not a swing state. In 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump won the state. According to the poll by Seltzer, Trump is trailing Harris by three points. 

If the poll is accurate, it means Trump's chances of winning the race to White House are slim. However, it is worth keeping in mind that polls often tend to be inaccurate. The more likely scenario is that Trump will win Iowa. 

Elon Musk has said that "Some people think their one vote doesn't count or they don't think it's serious enough.  It's really important to go explain them the importance of this election and how democracy is on the line. If there's any election where you ever vote, it should be this one."

The 82-year-old American actor said, "I'm Harrison Ford, doing something I never thought I'd do. Telling people I've never met who I'm voting for and why I think they might do the same. This election, I'm casting my ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Do I agree with every one of their policies? Of course not. Do I think they're perfect? C'mon, for crying out loud, they're people just like you and me."

“I pledge to be a president for all Americans. Let's get to work and not be afraid of having a little joy,” wrote Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris in a post on X. 
 

Trump urged his supporters in North Carolina with a confident message, stating, “When you’re winning by a lot, you can still lose by a little.” He declared, “The United States is now an occupied country, but it will soon be an occupied country no longer,” and described the November 5 election as “liberation day in America.” The former president has a busy rally schedule planned for the campaign’s final two days, with three rallies on Sunday and four on Monday. He told the crowd, “I’m working hard, because we have to win it,” and asked if they would mind if he shortened his speech due to the late hour. His campaign schedule includes rallies in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia tomorrow.

Trump in the same post on X promised that his victory would usher in an era of job creation and much more. 

“If I win, you are 3 days away from the best jobs, the biggest paychecks, and the brightest economic future the world has ever seen. I will massively cut taxes for workers and small businesses—and we will have NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY benefits!,” he wrote. 

US Presidential candidate Donald Trump, in a social media post on X, warned that if Kamala wins, Americans could face a looming economic depression reminiscent of 1929. 

“If Kamala wins, you are 3 days away from the start of a 1929-style economic depression. Kamala’s inflation nightmare has cost the typical American family $30,000 dollars in higher prices—and now, she wants to impose the largest tax hike in American history, and raise your taxes by $3,000 dollars a year,” Trump wrote.

Rapper Cardi B hit out at Tesla CEO Elon Musk's recent remarks labeling her a "puppet" for Kamala Harris's campaign.  "I'm not a puppet, Elon... I'm a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me!" she wrote. She highlighted her experiences with poverty and welfare, adding, "You don't know not one thing about the American struggle."

Former President Donald Trump was fired by 80 million American people in the 2020 presidential poll and they still do not trust him, Indian-origin Democratic leader Neil Makhija said, days ahead of the election day.

In an interview with PTI, Harvard-educated Makhija, who is emerging as a prominent face in the Democratic Party and overseeing Vice President Kamala Harris' campaigning in Pennsylvania said it is even concerning to think that Trump could even be close to being back to the White House.

Vice President Kamala Harris has said her administration will have the “most ambitious” climate agenda if she’s elected.
 

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to make final push ahead of Election day. 

In a post on his social media account, Donald Trump said, "If Kamala wins, you are 3 days away from the start of a 1929-style economic depression. If I win, you are 3 days away from the best jobs, the biggest paychecks, and the brightest economic future the world has ever seen."

He further added, "Kamala’s inflation nightmare has cost the typical American family $30,000 dollars in higher prices—and now, she wants to impose the largest tax hike in American history, and raise your taxes by $3,000 dollars a year. I will massively cut taxes for workers and small businesses—and we will have NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY benefits!"

Kamala Harris showcased her comedic side during a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, a popular comedy show. 

Indian-origin Democratic leader Neil Makhija, a prominent face in Harris's campaign, in an interview with PTI, said, "Having Kamala Devi Harris as the US president will be tremendously important not just for our community but for women, the African-Americans and for all of the people who have never seen themselves having a seat at the table."

Vice President Kamala Harris, in an op-ed recalled her frequent visits to India as a child, and her mother's upbringing.

"Growing up, my mother raised my sister and me to appreciate and honour our heritage. Nearly every other year, we would go to India for Diwali. We would spend time with our grandparents, our uncles, and our chitthis," Harris said.

"And as Vice President, it has been my honour to host Diwali celebrations in my home — the Vice President's Residence. Not only to celebrate the holiday, but to celebrate the rich history, culture, and heritage of the South Asian American diaspora, which is bound together by a shared sense of possibility and belief in the promise of America," she added.
 

The Trump campaign on Saturday bashed the new Iowa poll showing former President Donald Trump is no longer leading in the state. It said, "Every cycle, there’s one idiotic survey."

Trump had won in the state in 2016 and 2020.

As per the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll, Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump. The poll shows Harris ahead of Trump 47 per cent to 44 per cent among likely voters as the presidential race comes down to its final days.

Campaigning in North Carolina's Greensboro, Doanld Trump called himself the "father of fertilisation."

I consider myself to be the father of fertilisation."

He further went out to tout and said that he supports the procedure and advocated in the wake of the Alabama Supreme Court’s controversial IVF ruling

Responding to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweet calling her a puppet, Hollywood pop star Cardi B tweeted, "I’m not a puppet Elon.. I’m a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! I’m a product of welfare, I’m a product of section 8, I’m a product of poverty and I’m a product of what happens when the system is set up against you….But you don’t know nothing about that. You don’t know not one thing about the American struggle…. PS fix my algorithm."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced his packed schedule of rallies during his campaign in North Carolina, with three planned for Sunday and four on Monday.

"I'm working hard, because we have to win it," he said.

Furthermore, sending a confident message to his supporters Trump said, "When you're winning by a lot you can still lost by a little."

National Finance Committee member for Kamala Harris's campaign Ajay Bhutoria said, "... The election is less than three days away. There's huge enthusiasm around the country, especially in the battleground states, to vote for Kamala Harris and to elect her as the next president of the United States... She will lead the world and make a huge difference... Whether we talk about Michigan, Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, 2,000 doors were being knocked every minute by the grassroots volunteers... This is happening because the Democratic Party invested early in the election... We had a 50-state strategy and right almost at the beginning of this election cycle, we invested heavily into building the ground teams and opening offices. We have more than 450 offices in the battleground states... Our team volunteers are making sure that every voter turns out and votes for Kamala Harris... On three days away, we are going to win..."
 

Kamala Harris is expected to make an appearance on "Saturday Night Live,” three days before the elections.

Her appearance on the show was confirmed by three people familiar with Harris' plans who were not authorized to speak publicly about them. It is the final SNL episode before Election Day on Tuesday.

As the US braces for the much-awaited presidential polls, hundreds of Women's March protesters gather to support Presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the run-up to Election Day.