As the 2024 U.S. election season reaches its peak on November 5, states are counting votes. The 2024 U.S. presidential election will not only determine the next president of the United States but will also have a profound impact on the currently turbulent global situation.

What are the special highlights of this quadrennial presidential election? What possible outcomes could arise?

Highlight 1: What is special about the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

U.S. media generally believe that the 2024 election is the most closely contested presidential election in recent years and one of the most evenly matched in American history.

If Democratic candidate Harris wins this election, she is expected to become the first female president in U.S. history.

On the other hand, if Republican candidate Trump wins, he would become the second president in U.S. history, after Cleveland, to serve non-consecutive terms.

Highlight 2: When will the results of the 2024 presidential election be announced?

According to foreign media reports, the first polling stations will close at 6 PM Eastern Time on November 5 (7 AM Beijing Time on November 6), and the last polling stations will close at 1 AM on November 6 (2 PM Beijing Time on November 6).

In past presidential elections, the winner has sometimes been known late on election night or the following morning. However, due to varying counting speeds across states and the large number of mail-in ballots, the election results may not be announced that night.

For example, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin state laws stipulate that mail-in ballots can only be processed on election day, which will slow down the counting process.

Local time on November 5, the U.S. holds voting for the 2024 presidential election. The image shows a "I Voted" sticker at a polling place registration in Manhattan, New York.

Highlight 3: What are exit polls?

After the polling stations close, major news media will predict the winner in a state based on the counted data and exit polls, but this is only a prediction and not the final result.

Exit polls are surveys conducted by polling organizations outside polling stations after voting ends on election day, aimed at understanding voters' preferences.

Exit polls quickly gather information on voters' choices and reasons, helping media and analysis organizations predict election results before the official counting is completed.

Highlight 4: What circumstances trigger a recount?

According to the BBC, if the vote margin in some states is too close, a recount may be triggered.

For example, in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, if the margin between candidates is within 0.5 percentage points, a recount is required. In 2020, the margin in that state was just over 1.1 percentage points.

Highlight 5: How is the winner determined?

The U.S. presidential election is not a direct voting system where voters elect the president one person, one vote, but rather an indirect election through the Electoral College system.

Each state in the U.S. is allocated a certain number of electoral votes based on its population, totaling 538. A candidate needs to obtain at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election.

The U.S. employs a "winner-takes-all" system, meaning that in most states, the winning candidate receives all of that state's electoral votes. For instance, if a candidate leads by a narrow margin in California, they will receive all 54 electoral votes from that state.

Traditionally, most states in the U.S. have a clear preference for either Republican or Democratic candidates, and this preference rarely changes, leading to many states being labeled as "blue states" or "red states." For example, in recent decades, Democratic candidates have consistently secured all electoral votes from the "blue state" of California, while Republican candidates have reliably won the 40 electoral votes from the "red state" of Texas.

This has made the "swing states," where voter party affiliation is less certain, a key factor in presidential elections, as their votes often determine the final outcome.

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Local time just after midnight on November 5, some voters in New Hampshire began voting in the election, marking the official start of the quadrennial U.S. presidential election. The image shows the voting scene.

Highlight 6: What happens in the event of a tie?

If two candidates receive the same number of electoral votes, specifically 269 votes, a tie may occur.

According to the BBC, in such a case, the U.S. House of Representatives will hold a temporary election to vote for the president.

At the same time, the Senate will vote to elect the vice president.

However, it is said that this situation has not occurred in about 200 years.

Highlight 7: What could happen after the results are announced?

The Associated Press reports that "this election is the first held since the Capitol riot and will be a test of whether the new systems and safeguards established by Congress can ensure the long-standing tradition of a peaceful transfer of power in the U.S."

Previously, Trump, his running mate Vance, and major Republican leaders on Capitol Hill have repeatedly refused to clearly state whether they would accept the election results if he lost.

U.S. media analysis suggests that if Harris wins, she may face legal challenges and information warfare from Trump's camp. Some liberals worry that the influence of conservative platforms and figures like Musk, who support Trump on social media, may lead some people to question the fairness of the election.

If Trump wins, it could trigger widespread protests in major cities dominated by liberals. Critics of Trump fear he may implement radical policies, including pardoning those involved in the 2021 Capitol riot and potentially targeting officials deemed to have "betrayed" him.

Highlight 8: When will the presidential inauguration take place?

The elected president will be officially inaugurated on January 20, 2025, local time, at the U.S. Capitol.

This will be the 60th presidential inauguration in U.S. history. At that time, the new president will take an oath to uphold the Constitution and deliver an inaugural address.

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Author: China News Service

Original article: “Eight Highlights of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election”

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