WASHINGTON: On Tuesday, Americans headed to the polls in a historic presidential election that could reshape the nation’s trajectory and influence the global landscape. The race pits Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris against Republican candidate former President Donald Trump, making it a potential turning point for the country. Harris seeks to become the first female president in U.S. history, while Trump aims to achieve a rare non-consecutive second term following his 2020 defeat.

Polling data remains neck-and-neck nationally and across critical swing states, underscoring a deeply divided electorate. With over 77.5 million ballots cast before Election Day through mail-in and early voting, turnout reflects the high stakes felt by voters on both sides.

The contest has remained unpredictable, with pollsters unable to identify a clear front-runner. Each candidate’s differing visions reflect the stark political and cultural divide across the U.S., offering Americans contrasting paths forward. The battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—have received immense focus and campaign spending, with results likely to hinge on slim margins in these states.

As polls opened across the country, millions of Americans lined up to make their voices heard in what is expected to be one of the closest elections in recent history. However, with the potential for tight results in key states, it may take several days to finalize the outcome.

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Both candidates spent recent months rallying support and focusing campaign efforts in these swing states, emphasizing issues resonant with their bases. The final tally will ultimately determine whether the U.S. embarks on a new chapter under Harris’s leadership or revisits Trump’s policies with a renewed mandate. Until then, the nation awaits the results, knowing the direction of the presidency may rest on a few thousand votes in pivotal regions.