US Presidential Elections to take place today

The United States will go to polls today to elect a new President. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris are locked in a tough fight for the top post.

As the country has multiple time zones, polling in the US will begin today between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm India Standard Time. Most polling stations in the country will close between 5.30 am and 9.30 am Indian time tomorrow. Results of the elections are expected as polling closes, but it will take days before it is known who will be the next US president.

Many people may have already cast their vote ahead of



time using the postal voting system. In the United States, the President is not elected by popular vote but by an indirect election system called the Electoral College. A candidate aspiring to become the next US president needs an absolute majority of 270 or more votes out of 538 electoral college votes.

On 6th of January, next year, a joint session of Congress counts the electoral votes. If a candidate reaches 270 votes, they are declared the President-elect, even if they lose the national popular vote. The inauguration occurs on 20th of January, marking the start of their four-year term in office.