President Donald Trump will return to the White House in January as he secured enough electoral votes to win the 2024 presidential election.
The first votes for Election Day were cast in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch. The Associated Press said the tradition of being first in the nation started back in 1960. There are only six voters in the town and they cast their ballot at midnight in the living room of Tillotson House. The count took about 15 minutes and was split 3-3, three votes for Harris and three votes for Trump.
Harris was seeking to become the first woman to be elected president, and the first woman of color to be elected to the post. Trump was attempting to become the first president to win non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland won the 1892 election.
Biden congratulates Trump
Update 2:43 p.m. ET, Nov. 6: President Joe Biden has called to congratulate Trump on his win and to invite him to the White House as part of the transition process, the AP reported.
The meeting would happen in the “near future” but no exact date has been set.
Biden also spoke with Harris to congrtulate her on her campaign.
Biden also planned to speak to the country on Thursday, the AP reported.
Jack Smith in talks with DOJ to end cases against Trump
Update 2:15 p.m. ET, Nov. 6: Now that Trump won the presidential race, special council Jack Smith is in talks with the Department of Justice on what to do about the pending criminal cases against the now-president-elect, CNN reported.
Trump had said he would fire Smith and end the cases himself, the AP reported.
Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to look into allegations against Trump that he had tried to overthrow the 2020 election and the mishandling of classified documents, CNN reported.
Trump pleaded not guilty to both cases in federal court. The Supreme Court also ruled earlier this year that a president can have partial immunity for official acts.
The DOJ has a policy to not criminally prosecute a sitting president while in office, ABC News reported.
CNN said the discussions will last for a few days.
Harris calls Trump
Update 1:59 p.m. ET, Nov. 6: Harris called Trump on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him on his win, a Harris aide told the AP, on the condition of anonymity.
The unidentified aide said the vice president spoke with the president-elect about the peaceful transfer of power, the AP reported.
The call, according to CNN, lasted a few minutes.
What’s next?
Update 1:36 p.m. ET, Nov. 6: Trump’s win has started the process from now until he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2025, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
[ Read more: Election 2024: Trump wins election; what’s next in the process? ]
The electors who are part of the Electoral College will cast their votes in the state they represent on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, the National Archives said. That means it will happen on Dec. 17, 2024.
The results will be sent to Congress where they will be officially counted on Jan. 6, 2025. The sitting Vice President, in this case, Harris, oversees the count as the President of the Senate as a formality. She will then declare the official winners of the two offices.
Trump will take the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Trump wins Michigan
Update 12:56 p.m. ET, Nov. 6: Michigan has gone to Trump giving the former-now-president-elect its 15 electoral votes and bringing his total to 292 to Harris’ 224, the AP reported.
Harris to speak at 4 p.m. ET
Update 11:17 a.m. ET, Nov. 6: CNN reported that Harris will speak at 4 p.m. ET from Howard University, according to sources. She will also call Trump to concede the election.
The Washington Post reported she did not address her supporters during a watch party also held at Howard University, her alma mater. Her campaign’s co-chair addressed the crowd that was still on the campus at 12:45 a.m. telling them that Harris would not speak until the morning. That was hours before Trump was declared the winner on Wednesday morning.
Bush congratulates Trump
Update 11:13 a.m. ET, Nov. 6: Former President George W. Bush released a statement congratulating Trump on his win, writing that he and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush, “join our fellow citizens in praying for the success of our new leaders at all levels of government,” the AP reported.
“The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions,” Bush said, adding the process was a “free, fair, safe, and secure election.”
Bush remained neutral during the election process, not endorsing either Trump or Harris, despite several members of his administration announcing their support of Harris.
Images from election night
World leaders congratulate Trump on win; look to future
Update 6:41 a.m. ET, Nov. 6: Leaders from around the world have issued statements congratulating the 47th president.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump’s win “history’s greatest comeback” and that it would be a “new beginning for America, a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” the BBC reported.
While senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that Trump would be tested on his pledge to stop the war in hours after taking office.
U.K. Prime Minister Sir Deir Starmer said, “I look forward to working with Trump in the years ahead,” adding, “From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he wasn’t sure if Russian President Vladimir Putin would congratulate Trump on his win, but added, “Let’s not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state,” referring to the current administration’s support of Ukraine, Reuters reported.
“It is almost impossible to worsen them further, relations are at their historically lowest point. What happens next will depend on the next U.S. leadership.
“President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to constructive dialogue based on fairness and equality, and a willingness to take each other’s concerns into account,” Peskov added, responding to a question if it would be worse for diplomatic relations if Putin did not congratulate Trump , according to Reuters.
Canadian Prime Minister said the “friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Trump’s win “a much-needed victory for the world,” on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that he was ready to work with Trump once again “with respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said “I hope to cooperate with President-elect Trump to further elevate Japan-U.S. alliances and relations to even higher levels.” He said that he will be in touch with Trump soon.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, “Germany and the US have for a long time successfully worked together to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, Trump “will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO,” the BBC reported.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote a message to Trump on X, “Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and America will shine brighter.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II also reached out to the president-elect on X, writing that he was “Looking forward to working with you again to bolster Jordan’s longstanding partnership with the United States, in service of regional and global peace and stability for all.”
Other world leaders also posted their congratulations to Trump on social media :
Trump is president-elect
Update 5:51 a.m. ET, Nov. 6: Former President Donald Trump has officially won the presidency after taking Wisconsin, the AP reported. That put him over the 270 threshold needed to win, giving him 277 electoral votes.
Harris did not speak before the race was called, but her co-chair, Cedric Richmond, said the Vice President would speak on Wednesday, The Washington Post reported.
There are still five states that have yet to be called -Maine (4) Michigan (15), Nevada (6), Arizona (11) and Alaska (3). In all 39 electoral votes are on the table.
--Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris carries Hawaii
Update 12:02 a.m. ET, Nov. 6: Vice President Kamala Harris won Hawaii and the state’s four electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
It is the 10th consecutive election that the Aloha State has chosen a Democratic candidate for president.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris wins Virginia, AP projects
Update 11:48 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Virginia and its 13 electoral votes, handing Donald Trump his third consecutive defeat in the Old Dominion state, The Associated Press reported.
The Democratic nominee for president has won Virginia in every election since 2008.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Harris projected to win New Mexico
Update 11:43 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris captured New Mexico’s five electoral votes, The Associated Press reported.
The last Republican to carry the state was George W. Bush in 2004.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris takes victory in Oregon
Update 11:27 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Oregon’s eight electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
The Democratic nominee for president has won Oregon in every election since 1988.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump projected to win battleground state of NC
Update 11:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won the battleground state of North Carolina, collecting the state’s 16 electoral votes, The Associated Press reported.
Trump also won the state in 2016 and 2020.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris projected to win California
Update 11:08 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won California, taking the state’s 54 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
Harris, who was a U.S. senator and attorney general in the nation’s most populous state, won the biggest prize in terms of electoral votes.
A Republican candidate has not won a presidential contest in California since 1988.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris captures Washington, AP projects
Update 11:05 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Washington’s 12 electoral votes, The Associated Press reported.
Washington has not given a Republican presidential candidate a victory since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP calls Idaho for Trump
Update 11:03 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Idaho for the third consecutive election. snaring the state’s four electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
The last time a Democratic presidential nominee won Idaho was 60 years ago, when Lyndon Johnson beat Republican Barry Goldwater by a narrow margin of just over 5,300 votes.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris wins Maine’s 1st Congressional District
Update 10:53 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris picked up one electoral vote from Maine’s 1st Congressional District, The Associated Press reported.
Maine is one of two states that splits its electoral votes with two votes going to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner of each congressional district.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump wins Iowa, Kansas
Update 10:46 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Iowa’s six electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
Trump also won Kansas and its six electoral votes; Republican presidential candidates have carried Kansas in every election since 1964.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
McBride becomes first transgender member of Congress
Update 10:43 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Delaware state Rep. Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, The Associated Press reported.
McBride, a Democrat, replaces Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester as Delaware’s lone House member.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris takes District of Columbia
Update 10:23 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris was projected to win the District of Columbia’s three electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Harris expected to win Colorado
Update 10:11 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Kamala Harris won Colorado’s 10 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
The last Republican presidential candidate to win the state was George W. Bush in 2004.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Donald Trump projected to win Montana, Utah
Update 10:03 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump is projected to win in Montana and Utah, according to The Associated Press.
Montana, which had four electoral votes, has gone to the Republican nominee for president in all but one election since 1968.
In Utah, Trump captured the state’s six electoral votes.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump will win Missouri
Update 9:53 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump is projected to win in Missouri for the third straight presidential election, according to The Associated Press. Trump added 10 electoral votes to his total.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
9 polling places in eastern Arizona county get extensions
Update 9:42 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: A judge ordered polling places to remain open two extra hours in nine precincts in Arizona’s Apache County, The Associated Press reported. Polling places in the county had malfunctioning equipment and a lack of printed ballots.
Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Latham agreed to keep the polls open at the request of the Navajo Nation, which filed a lawsuit asking for extended hours due to the problems.
According to a court order, the nine locations whose hours will be extended are Lukachukai, Lupton, Rock Point, Dennehotso, Chinle, Cottonwood, Wheatfields, Fort Defiance and St. Michaels, CNN reported.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris captures New Jersey
Update 9:32 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey’s 14 electoral votes, The Associated Press reported.
Democratic candidates for president have won in the Garden State in every election since 1988.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump wins Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District
Update 9:29 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump picked up one electoral vote tied to Nebraska’s rural 3rd Congressional District, The Associated Press reported.
The large congressional district covers 80 counties and two time zones.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump takes Texas, AP projects
Update 9:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump is projected to win Texas for the third consecutive election, adding 40 electoral votes to his tally, according to The Associated Press.
The Republican nominee for president has won in every election since Democrat Jimmy Carter carried the state in 1976.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Harris projected to carry New York
Update 9:16 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won New York’s presidential contest, picking up the state’s 28 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
New York has now voted for the Democrat in every presidential contest since giving Republican Ronald Reagan the nod in the 1984 election.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump wins 2 of Nebraska’s electoral votes
Update 9:14 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump won the statewide popular vote in Nebraska for the third consecutive election, receiving two electoral college votes, The Associated Press reported. Nebraska is one of two states that divide electoral votes with two votes going to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner of each congressional district.
The last Democratic presidential nominee to win the statewide popular vote in Nebraska was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump projected to win Ohio
Update 9:11 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Donald Trump carried Ohio for a third time, winning the state’s 17 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
Ohio voters supported Trump by wide margins in 2016 and 2020. No Republican has reached the White House without carrying Ohio, the news organization reported.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump wins Louisiana, Wyoming
Update 9:09 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Louisiana’s eight electoral votes for the third consecutive presidential election, The Associated Press reported. The Republican nominee for president has won every election in Louisiana since 1996.
Trump also won Wyoming, winning the three electoral votes from the nation’s least populated state.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump prevails in Dakotas
Update 9:05 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump swept to victories in the Dakotas, winning North Dakota’s three electoral votes and South Dakota’s three votes, The Associated Press reported.
The last Democratic presidential candidate to win North and South Dakota was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Recreational marijuana amendment in Florida fails
Update 9:01 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: A proposed amendment that would have allowed for recreational marijuana use in Florida failed to get the needed 60% support to pass, the Miami Herald reported. Amendment 3, which would have allowed people 21 and older to use marijuana without any medical reason, got about 55% of the vote, according to the newspaper.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Florida rejects abortion rights amendment
Update 8:55 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Florida voters rejected an abortion rights amendment as the measure failed to reach the required 60% threshold, The Associated Press reported.
The amendment keeps Gov. Ron DeSantis’ six-week ban.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris projected to win Illinois, AP says
Update 8:42 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Illinois’ 19 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
Illinois, the home of former President Barack Obama, has supported Democratic presidential candidates since 1992, the news organization reported.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Harris projected to win Delaware
Update 8:38 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Delaware’s three electoral votes, according to The Associated Press. A Democrat has not lost a presidential race in Delaware since 1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush took the state.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP calls Arkansas for Trump
Update 8:33 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Arkansas’ six electoral votes, according to The Associated Press. Trump won Arkansas for the third consecutive presidential election.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
2 election workers in Missouri killed during flood
Update 8:26 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Two election workers in southern Missouri died when their cars were swept away by a fast-flooding creek, The Associated Press reported.
In Wright County, vehicles driven by a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were swept away by flooding Beaver Creek around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Their bodies were found more than four hours later, police said.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP calls Maryland for Harris
Update 8:22 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won Maryland and its 10 electoral votes, according to The Associated Press.
A Republican has not won a presidential election in the state since George H.W. Bush in 1988.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump projected to win Tennessee
Update 8:18 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Tennessee’s 11 electoral votes, The Associated Press reported. Trump won Tennessee by about 23 percentage points in 2020 and by 26 points in 2016.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump wins in Mississippi, Alabama
Update 8:06 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Mississippi, The Associated Press reported. Trump claimed the state’s six electoral votes as Republicans continued to dominate in the Deep South. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Mississippi was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Trump also took Alabama for the third consecutive election, the AP reported. Alabama has nine electoral votes.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Harris wins Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts
Update 8:16 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice President Kamala Harris won three more states in New England, with projected victories in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Connecticut was worth seven electoral votes, and Rhode Island’s four and Massachusetts 10 electoral votes were tallied for Harris, according to The Associated Press.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump wins Oklahoma, South Carolina
Update 8:11 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump is projected to win in Oklahoma and South Carolina, according to The Associated Press.
Trump won Oklahoma and its seven electoral votes. The former president also won nine electoral votes in South Carolina and took the Palmetto State for the third straight time.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP projects Trump to win in Florida
Update 8:03 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump is projected to win Florida, where his Mar-a-Lago residence is located. Trump collects 30 electoral votes for winning the Sunshine State, according to The Associated Press.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump projected to win West Virginia
Update 7:33 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump is projected to win West Virginia for the third consecutive presidential election cycle, The Associated Press reported. That adds four electoral votes to Trump’s tally sheet.
No Democrat has won the presidential election in West Virginia since Bill Clinton did it in 1996.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Trump projected to win Kentucky
Update 7:14 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump won Kentucky for the third consecutive election, The Associated Press reported. Trump added eight more electoral votes to his total.
The Republican nominee for president has won Kentucky in every election since Democrat Bill Clinton carried the Bluegrass State in 1996.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
AP: Trump wins Indiana; Harris takes Vermont
Update 7:11 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Former President Donald Trump is projected to win Indiana’s 11 electoral votes, The Associated Press reported. The AP also reported that Vice President Kamala Harris will win Vermont and its three electoral votes.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Polls begin to close
Update 7:08 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Polls closed in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia at 7 p.m. ET, The Associated Press reported. Approximately 10 polling locations in a “handful” of Georgia counties will stay open late due to non-credible threats that briefly disrupted voting, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said, according to CNN.
At 7:30 p.m. ET, polls will close in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, the AP reported.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Georgia polling place cleared after another bomb threat
Update 7:02 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Another suburban Atlanta polling location was cleared about an hour after a reported bomb threat.
DeKalb County election officials said that the Reid Cofer Library in Tucker was evacuated after a reported bomb threat, WSB-TV reported.
DeKalb County election officials said they received seven bomb threats during the day, including five polling locations, according to the television station:
- New Bethel AME Church, 8350 Rockbridge Rd., Lithonia;
- New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Rd., Decatur;
- North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Dr., Chamblee;
- Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Rd., Tucker;
- Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Rd., Decatur
The polling place at the library in Tucker was evacuated at 5:47 p.m., WSB reported.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Pennsylvania officials deny Trump’s cheating claim
Officials associated with both political parties are denying former President Donald Trump’s claim on social media of “massive cheating” in Philadelphia.
Seth Bluestein, a Republican and one of three Philadelphia election, said on social media, there is “absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation.”
Voting in the city is “safe and secure,” he said, according to The Associated Press.
Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Department of State said, “Pennsylvania counties, including Philadelphia, are running a safe and secure election.”
Trump provided no details about the alleged cheating. His spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment about what he meant.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner issued a statement responding to Trump’s post.
“There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation,” Krasner said. “We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.”
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Walz arrives in DC; Trump will watch results from Mar-a-Lago
Update 2:32 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Vice Presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his family arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, The New York Times reported. Walz had been in Pennsylvania campaigning earlier in the day, The Washington Post reported. Harris will continue the tradition of having a family dinner on election night before heading to Howard University to watch the results, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, several sources told CNN that Trump will be watching the election results at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with a small group of family and friends. There will also be a watch party dinner at Trump’s property. He is still expected to appear with a larger group at the Palm Beach Convention Center later tonight, the Times reported.
Astronauts voted early
Update 2:02 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: They’ve been stuck on the International Space Station for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, they were able to vote in the 2024 presidential election, the Harris County (Texas) Clerk of Court’s Office said, according to CNN.
Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS on Boeing’s Starliner in June when it had helium leaks and other issues with its reaction control thrusters upon approach to the station, NASA said.
Their mission was supposed to last a few days but will now stretch until February, about eight months after their eight-day mission blasted off, the AP reported.
The delay forced them to vote from space with their ballots sent to Earth through NASA’s Near Space Network, or a group of satellites that send messages to antennas on Earth, CNN explained.
FBI command post
Update 1:09 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: The FBI set up a National Election Command Post at the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters to monitor threats against the election process from domestic and abroad, The Washington Post reported.
In addition to the FBI the 24-hour monitoring post is made up of employees from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Secret Service; Postal Inspection Service and the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section.
It will be open until at least Saturday. There are also command centers at all 55 FBI field offices in the U.S.
Bomb threats were of Russian origin
Update 12:42 p.m. ET, Nov. 5: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that there were several bomb threats against polling places in the state that he said originated from Russia, CNN reported.
He said the threats were investigated despite thinking they were fake. In all five threats were reported and caused the polling locations to be closed for about 30 minutes, WSB reported.
“They’re up to mischief, it seems, and they don’t want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election,” Raffensperger said. “Anything that can get us to fight amongst ourselves - they can count that as a victory.”
Raffensperger said he expects the state’s results should be available this evening with smaller counties taking until about 10 p.m. to count votes, WSB reported.
Trump casts ballot, Harris said she would vote by mail
Update 11:46 a.m. ET, Nov. 5: Trump cast his ballot at his precinct in Palm Beach with his wife and former first lady Melania Trump, CNN reported. His running mate, JD Vance cast his vote in Ohio earlier Tuesday.
Harris said on Sunday she would vote by mail. She is from California and had not returned to her home state recently, The Hill reported. Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz voted last week while in Minnesota.
President Joe Biden voted in person in Delaware last week.
NFL stadiums, NBA arenas used as voting polls
Update 10:59 a.m. ET, Nov. 5: Community voting locations usually are schools, libraries and churches, but in some areas, precincts go much, much bigger.
The AP reported that 17 stadiums and arenas are being used for polling locations or ballot drop-off locations with some teams jumping into the “I Voted” sticker game by offering their own team-branded labels.
[ Election 2024: Freebies you can get with your ‘I Voted’ stickers ]
No games were on the NFL or NBA schedules allowing their facilities to be used. The NBA used Election Day as part of its focus on civic engagement. All 30 teams also wore warmup shirts on election eve that simply said “Vote,” the AP reported.
Forty-three sports venues were used in the 2020 election to cast votes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sports Business Journal said.
What is the Electoral College?
Update 10:42 a.m. ET, Nov. 5: While millions of voters cast their ballots on Election Day, the count won’t be official until the Electoral College process is done. The Electoral College is a group of electors who cast their vote for the president and vice president. Their votes are then counted by Congress, according to the National Archives.
There are 538 electors and a majority — 270 votes — are needed to secure the win.
When will the electors meet? It sounds confusing. They will cast their votes in the state they represent on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, the National Archives said. That means it will happen on Dec. 17, 2024.
[ Read more: Election 2024: What is the Electoral College and how will it select the president? ]
Vance casts ballot
Update 9:07 a.m. ET, Nov. 5: Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance arrived at his polling location in Cincinnati to cast his ballot on Tuesday morning, WLWT shared.
Where will the candidates be on election night?
Update 8:53 a.m. ET, Nov. 5: After the voting is done, the candidates and their teams will be at two locations waiting with their teams for the results to come in.
Trump will host a watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Flordia, USA Today reported.
Harris will have an event at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden will watch the results at the White House, CNN reported. Biden has no public events on his schedule but is expected to receive updates throughout the day.
Voters line up to cast ballots
Who can vote?
Not everyone has a right to vote in America, but the requirements are not that difficult. The federal rules state that U.S. citizens 18 and older can vote. States may have other requirements such as not allowing people in prison for a felony, the AP reported.
What will you need to vote?
Many states, but not all, require voters to be registered prior to election day. But some states such as Virginia allow same-day registration that will allow voters to cast a provisional ballot. It is likely no matter where you cast your ballot that you will have to show identification, so make sure you have an ID with you before going to the polls, the AP said.