President Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden both still have possible paths to reach the needed 270 Electoral College votes to win the White House, as states keep counting mail-in ballots that surged amid the coronavirus pandemic.

US Election 2020: Joe Biden campaign rebukes Trump's 'outrageous claims'

President Donald Trump appears to have lost some support among white men and older people in Georgia and Virginia, key parts of his voter base, according to Edison Research polls on Tuesday.

While Trump is still winning the majority of those voters, some of them switched to supporting his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, the exit polls showed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-result-joe-biden-wins-delaware-district-of-columbia-maryland-massachusetts-reports-afp-340312" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Joe Biden wins Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, reports AFP</a>

Edison’s polls showed Trump winning seven in 10 white men in Georgia, which is down from an eight in 10 advantage over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. And while Trump is winning six in 10 voters who are at least 65 years old in Georgia, that is down from a seven in 10 four years ago.

Final election results from both states have yet to be tallied, but Biden has been projected to win Virginia. Clinton also won the state in 2016.

In Virginia, Trump was winning six in 10 whites without college degrees, down from seven in 10 in 2016. Trump was also winning six in 10 white men in Virginia, down from seven in 10 in 2016.

In more encouraging news for the president, Trump was winning six in 10 voters in Virginia who have an income of $100,000 or more.

The poll is based on in-person interviews with voters on Tuesday, in-person interviews at early voting centers before Election Day and telephone interviews with people who voted by mail.

COVID CONCERNS

The national Edison Research poll results revealed deep concern about the coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 9.4 million people in the United States this year and killed more than 230,000.

While only two of 10 voters nationally said COVID-19 was the issue that mattered most in their choice for president, half of U.S. voters believe it is more important to contain the coronavirus even if it hurts the economy.

Trump has made the full opening of the U.S. economy a centerpiece of his re-election campaign, even as infections continue to rise. Biden has claimed Trump is undeserving of a second term because of his handling of the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-result-half-of-voters-confident-their-ballots-will-be-counted-accurately-cnn-exit-poll-shows-340305" hreflang="en">Half of voters confident their ballots will be counted accurately, CNN exit poll shows</a>

In the national exit poll, four out of 10 voters said they think the effort to contain the virus is going "very badly." In the battleground states of Florida and North Carolina, five of 10 voters said the national response to the pandemic is going "somewhat or very badly."

Six of 10 said the pandemic had created at least a moderate financial hardship. And seven in 10 said wearing a face mask in public is a "public health responsibility" versus three in 10 who see it as a personal choice.

The poll found that nine out of 10 voters had already decided whom to vote for before October, and nine out of 10 voters said they were confident that their state would accurately count votes.

One of 10 voters said they were voting for the first time, which was similar to the 2016 election survey.

Other issues that were top of mind for voters included the economy, racial inequality, crime and safety and healthcare policy.

Edison compiles exit polls and live election results for the National Election Pool media consortium.

President Donald Trump appears to have lost some support among white men and older people in Georgia and Virginia, key parts of his voter base, according to Edison Research polls on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump appears to have lost some support among white men and older people in Georgia and Virginia, key parts of his voter base, according to Edison Research polls on Tuesday. While Trump is still winning the majority of those voters, some of them switched to supporting his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, the exit polls showed. Also read: US election 2020: Joe Biden wins Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, reports AFP Edison’s polls showed Trump winning seven in 10 white men in Georgia, which is down from an eight in 10 advantage over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. And while Trump is winning six in 10 voters who are at least 65 years old in Georgia, that is down from a seven in 10 four years ago. Final election results from both states have yet to be tallied, but Biden has been projected to win Virginia. Clinton also won the state in 2016. In Virginia, Trump was winning six in 10 whites without college degrees, down from seven in 10 in 2016. Trump was also winning six in 10 white men in Virginia, down from seven in 10 in 2016. In more encouraging news for the president, Trump was winning six in 10 voters in Virginia who have an income of $100,000 or more. The poll is based on in-person interviews with voters on Tuesday, in-person interviews at early voting centers before Election Day and telephone interviews with people who voted by mail. COVID CONCERNS The national Edison Research poll results revealed deep concern about the coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 9.4 million people in the United States this year and killed more than 230,000. While only two of 10 voters nationally said COVID-19 was the issue that mattered most in their choice for president, half of U.S. voters believe it is more important to contain the coronavirus even if it hurts the economy. Trump has made the full opening of the U.S. economy a centerpiece of his re-election campaign, even as infections continue to rise. Biden has claimed Trump is undeserving of a second term because of his handling of the pandemic. Also read: Half of voters confident their ballots will be counted accurately, CNN exit poll shows In the national exit poll, four out of 10 voters said they think the effort to contain the virus is going "very badly." In the battleground states of Florida and North Carolina, five of 10 voters said the national response to the pandemic is going "somewhat or very badly." Six of 10 said the pandemic had created at least a moderate financial hardship. And seven in 10 said wearing a face mask in public is a "public health responsibility" versus three in 10 who see it as a personal choice. The poll found that nine out of 10 voters had already decided whom to vote for before October, and nine out of 10 voters said they were confident that their state would accurately count votes. One of 10 voters said they were voting for the first time, which was similar to the 2016 election survey. Other issues that were top of mind for voters included the economy, racial inequality, crime and safety and healthcare policy. Edison compiles exit polls and live election results for the National Election Pool media consortium.

US election 2020: Trump support eroding among older voters and white men, exit polls suggest

US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times

US elections 2020: Crucial states that could determine course of the race

Democrat Presidential candidate Biden has won the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and his home state of Delaware, AFP reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, incumbent President Donald Trump has won Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

The battle between Donald Trump and Joe Biden continues to heat up as states slowly close polling across the country.

<h2>US election 2020: Battleground states</h2>

Both the candidates are fighting it out in battleground states of Florida, Georgia, and Ohio.

As polls closed in six US states, exit polls showed Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden is set to win in Virginia even as US President Donald Trump is set to clinch West Virginia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The polling numbers have been strong for the past month with over 100 million votes already cast as Americans came out to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At 7:00 pm (0000 GMT), voting ended in Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont and Georgia.

According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country.

<h2>US election 2020: economy?</h2>

Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many.

Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now.

At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections.

Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them.

While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy.

Democrat Presidential candidate Biden has won the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and his home state of Delaware, AFP reported on Wednesday. Meanwhile, incumbent President Donald Trump has won Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

Democrat Presidential candidate Biden has won the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and his home state of Delaware, AFP reported on Wednesday. Meanwhile, incumbent President Donald Trump has won Oklahoma, and Kentucky. The battle between Donald Trump and Joe Biden continues to heat up as states slowly close polling across the country. US election 2020: Battleground states Both the candidates are fighting it out in battleground states of Florida, Georgia, and Ohio. As polls closed in six US states, exit polls showed Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden is set to win in Virginia even as US President Donald Trump is set to clinch West Virginia. The polling numbers have been strong for the past month with over 100 million votes already cast as Americans came out to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic. At 7:00 pm (0000 GMT), voting ended in Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont and Georgia. According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country. US election 2020: economy? Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many. Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now. At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections. Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them. While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy.

US election 2020: Joe Biden wins Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, reports AFP

Voters largely found the experience of casting their ballots to be an easy one, though there is a wide gap between the share of White voters who say it was very easy (roughly three-quarters) and the share of Black voters who feel the same way (about half).&nbsp;

A CNN Exit Poll survey has suggested that about half of the voters in the United States say they are very confident that votes in their states will be accurately cast and counted, about the same as four years ago.

There is, however, a wide gap between the share of White voters who say voting was very easy -- roughly three-quarters -- and the share of Black voters who feel the same way -- about half

The survey also suggests a high level of new voter participation. About 1 in 8 say 2020 is the first year they have ever voted, about on par with the share saying so in 2008.

According to CNN, their exit polls are a combination of in-person interviews with Election Day voters and telephone polls measuring the views of absentee by-mail and early voters, and were conducted by Edison Research on behalf of the National Election Pool. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points; it is larger for subgroups.

Voters largely found the experience of casting their ballots to be an easy one, though there is a wide gap between the share of White voters who say it was very easy (roughly three-quarters) and the share of Black voters who feel the same way (about half).

Voters largely found the experience of casting their ballots to be an easy one, though there is a wide gap between the share of White voters who say it was very easy (roughly three-quarters) and the share of Black voters who feel the same way (about half). A CNN Exit Poll survey has suggested that about half of the voters in the United States say they are very confident that votes in their states will be accurately cast and counted, about the same as four years ago. There is, however, a wide gap between the share of White voters who say voting was very easy -- roughly three-quarters -- and the share of Black voters who feel the same way -- about half The survey also suggests a high level of new voter participation. About 1 in 8 say 2020 is the first year they have ever voted, about on par with the share saying so in 2008. According to CNN, their exit polls are a combination of in-person interviews with Election Day voters and telephone polls measuring the views of absentee by-mail and early voters, and were conducted by Edison Research on behalf of the National Election Pool. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points; it is larger for subgroups.

Half of voters confident their ballots will be counted accurately, CNN exit poll shows

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with polls gradually closing across the United States.

The first results have just come in, with US media projecting wins for Biden in Vermont and Virginia,&nbsp;and for Trump in West Virginia.

The Republican incumbent is looking poised to win in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia -- all states he won in 2016.

The tally gives Trump 24 electoral votes to 16 for Biden. The magic number is 270.&nbsp;

Observers expect the hotly contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key battleground states. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with polls gradually closing across the United States. The first results have just come in, with US media projecting wins for Biden in Vermont and Virginia, and for Trump in West Virginia.

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with polls gradually closing across the United States. The first results have just come in, with US media projecting wins for Biden in Vermont and Virginia, and for Trump in West Virginia. The Republican incumbent is looking poised to win in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia -- all states he won in 2016. The tally gives Trump 24 electoral votes to 16 for Biden. The magic number is 270. Observers expect the hotly contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key battleground states.

First election results: Biden wins Vermont and Virginia, Trump takes West Virginia

Republican Donald Trump faced Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Tuesday in the U.S. presidential election. There are 538 Electoral College votes allotted to the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It takes 270 votes to win.

US Election 2020: Donald Trump leading in Pennsylvania by 55.6% votes

India, the United States, Japan and Australia began their largest joint naval exercises in over a decade on Tuesday (November 03), seen as part of efforts to balance China's vast military and economic power in the region.

What will US poll results mean for India? | US Presidential Election 2020

Americans streamed to the polls on Tuesday to choose either incumbent Donald Trump or challenger Joe Biden to lead a pandemic-battered nation for the next four years. Voters lined up around the country to cast ballots, with no signs yet of disruptions at polling places that some had feared after a heated campaign marked by provocative rhetoric.

Trump: We are going to have a special next year | US Presidential Election 2020

As voters line up to vote during US elections, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden's vice president pick Kamala Harris said "it is going to be a tight race, let's elect Joe Biden". "We have a choice in front of us and power in our hands. We need to deal with racial disparity," Kamala Harris said.

Kamala Harris greets supporters on polling day | US Presidential Election 2020

US election 2020: Voting is underway in the United States to elect a new president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-heres-what-voting-looks-like-in-uncertain-times-340260" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times</a>

According to CNN’s preliminary exit poll, a majority of both Trump and Biden supporters claim to have cast ballots in support of their candidate, as opposed to against their opponent. However, the early findings claimed that Trump’s voter base remained more loyal to him, implying many of his voters voted for simply to ensure a counter-vote against his opponent.&nbsp;

4 out of 5 voters claimed that they voted for Trump, while only two-thirds of Biden voters claimed the same, implying Trump’s voter base is more loyal.

US election 2020: Best quality?

In terms of the quality they were looking for among their next president, many claimed it was a show of strength, ie, a strong leader. In early results, one third voters claimed so, and only a quarter wanted someone who possessed good judgment. Only one-fifth voters prioritised candidates who “cares about people like me”.

Also, less than one-fifth voters were looking for someone to unite the country.

In terms of the leader’s stand on issues, three-quarter voters claimed that the candidate’s position mattered, while less than a quarter prioritised the candidate’s personal qualities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-preliminary-poll-suggests-voters-prioritised-economy-while-casting-vote-340299" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Preliminary poll suggests voters prioritised economy while casting vote</a>

Over half a voters claimed that the Supreme Court should preserve ObamaCare as it exists.

US Supreme Court will hear arguments seeking overturning ObamaCare next Tuesday. According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country.

US election 2020: Economy?

Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many.

Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-election-day-unfolds-smoothly-defying-fears-of-disruption-340289" hreflang="en">US Election 2020: Election day unfolds smoothly, defying fears of disruption</a>

At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections.

Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them.

While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy.

US election 2020: Voting is underway in the United States to elect a new president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

US election 2020: Voting is underway in the United States to elect a new president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. In Pics: US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times According to CNN’s preliminary exit poll, a majority of both Trump and Biden supporters claim to have cast ballots in support of their candidate, as opposed to against their opponent. However, the early findings claimed that Trump’s voter base remained more loyal to him, implying many of his voters voted for simply to ensure a counter-vote against his opponent. 4 out of 5 voters claimed that they voted for Trump, while only two-thirds of Biden voters claimed the same, implying Trump’s voter base is more loyal. US election 2020: Best quality? In terms of the quality they were looking for among their next president, many claimed it was a show of strength, ie, a strong leader. In early results, one third voters claimed so, and only a quarter wanted someone who possessed good judgment. Only one-fifth voters prioritised candidates who “cares about people like me”. Also, less than one-fifth voters were looking for someone to unite the country. In terms of the leader’s stand on issues, three-quarter voters claimed that the candidate’s position mattered, while less than a quarter prioritised the candidate’s personal qualities. Also read: US election 2020: Preliminary poll suggests voters prioritised economy while casting vote Over half a voters claimed that the Supreme Court should preserve ObamaCare as it exists. US Supreme Court will hear arguments seeking overturning ObamaCare next Tuesday. According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country. US election 2020: Economy? Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many. Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now. Also read: US Election 2020: Election day unfolds smoothly, defying fears of disruption At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections. Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them. While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy.

US election 2020: Early nationwide exit poll suggests Trump voters more loyal

US Election 2020: Who is winning the U.S. presidential election?

Protesters against President Donald Trump gathered and marched in Washington DC as votes were being counted in the United States just after midnight on Wednesday (November 4).

Protesters march towards Black Lives Matter plaza | US Election 2020

US election 2020: The United States is currently voting for its next president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country.

US election 2020: Economy or COVID?

Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many.

Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-country-entitled-to-know-who-won-on-november-3-says-trump-340238" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Country entitled to know who won on November 3, says Trump</a>

At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections.

Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them.

While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy.

US Election 2020: Coronavirus response?

Majority of the voters felt that the US response to COVID-19 has been inadequate. Seven out of 10 voters claimed that wearing a face covering in public is more of a public health responsibility than a personal choice.

The preliminary findings of the CNN poll also found that Trump supporters find economy the country’s top issue, (about 6 out of 10), while 3 out of 10 Biden supporters believe coronavirus is the top issue.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-biden-eye-florida-as-battleground-states-hold-sway-340285" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway</a>

Every seven out of 10 Trump supporters believed economy rebuilding was more important than COVID-19. Among Biden supporters, it was the opposite: 8 out of 10 supporters believes that COVID-19 should take precedence.

A majority of the voters claimed that were facing hardships due to COVID-19.

Live updates <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-live-update-donald-trump-joe-biden-votes-tally-president-predictions-pennsylvania-county-begins-vote-count-how-to-follow-the-2020-us-election-results-from-india-340293">here</a>

US election 2020: The United States is currently voting for its next president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

US election 2020: The United States is currently voting for its next president, with a fierce fight between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. According to early results from CNN’s countrywide exit poll, economy was the most important factor for all voters in the country. US election 2020: Economy or COVID? Even though many disagreed on the contemporary condition of the US economy, the majority agreed that the pandemic had been the source of hardships for many. Even in early results of CNN’s poll, four in 10 people claimed that they were doing better than four years ago, while two out of 10 said that they are worse off now. Also read: US Elections 2020: Country entitled to know who won on November 3, says Trump At least one-third voters referred to the economy as the key factor. One in five claimed racial injustice was a critical factor, while one in six referred to COVID-19 as the most important player in the ongoing elections. Only one out of 10 claimed that healthcare and violence were top issues for them. While many voters agree that economy takes precedence over the pandemic in the larger choice for their candidate, many claimed that the country and its administration should now focus on containing the pandemic more than rebuilding the economy. US Election 2020: Coronavirus response? Majority of the voters felt that the US response to COVID-19 has been inadequate. Seven out of 10 voters claimed that wearing a face covering in public is more of a public health responsibility than a personal choice. The preliminary findings of the CNN poll also found that Trump supporters find economy the country’s top issue, (about 6 out of 10), while 3 out of 10 Biden supporters believe coronavirus is the top issue. Also read: US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway Every seven out of 10 Trump supporters believed economy rebuilding was more important than COVID-19. Among Biden supporters, it was the opposite: 8 out of 10 supporters believes that COVID-19 should take precedence. A majority of the voters claimed that were facing hardships due to COVID-19. Live updates here

US election 2020: Preliminary poll suggests voters prioritised economy while casting vote

A failed Democratic drive to gain control the U.S. Senate could reduce the prospects for aggressive legislation to combat global climate change, even if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden were to win the White House.

US Election 2020: Will Republicans retain the senate? | World News | WION News

Will the U.S. elections be decided in court? What if Trump refuses to accept election results? Palki Sharma Upadhyay answers these and other questions.

Gravitas: U.S. Elections: All you need to know

Can we expect the U.S. Presidential result by Nov 4th? Speaking exclusively to Palki Sharma Upadhyay, Syed Akbaruddin says the answer lies with Florida. Listen in to the conversation.

Gravitas: When will U.S. Election results be out?

Americans by the millions patiently lined up on Tuesday to cast ballots at libraries, schools and arenas amid a deadly pandemic, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied deep tensions shaping one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in US&nbsp;history.

The face masks worn by many voters and the sight of boarded-up stores in some city centers were reminders of two big issues defining the 2020 election, with COVID-19 still ravaging parts of the country after a summer of sometimes violence-marred protests against police brutality and racism.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/key-states-in-us-elections-2020-biden-hopes-to-turn-red-georgia-into-blue-as-trump-struggles-340288" hreflang="en">Key states in US elections 2020: Biden hopes to turn 'Red' Georgia into 'Blue' as Trump struggles</a>

The FBI and the New York attorney general's office opened investigations into spates of anonymous robocalls urging people in several states to stay home.

And a federal judge ordered the U.S. Postal Service to conduct a sweep of some facilities across the country for undelivered mail-in ballots and to ship them immediately to election offices to be counted.

Civil liberties groups and law enforcement were on high alert for interference with voters at the polls, but few if any major disruptions were reported by late afternoon.

In a troubling incident in the battleground state of North Carolina, a man legally carrying an unconcealed firearm was arrested and charged with trespassing at a polling site in Charlotte.

Police said the suspect, Justin Dunn, 36, had loitered at the site after voting in the morning, "possibly intimidating other voters." A precinct official asked him to leave and he returned two hours later, when he was taken into custody, authorities said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-biden-eye-florida-as-battleground-states-hold-sway-340285" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway</a>

In New York City, some voting lines snaked around blocks, but in many places, from Los Angeles to Detroit and Atlanta, lines were short or non-existent. Poll workers guessed this was due to an unprecedented wave of early voting. More than 100 million ballots were cast before Election Day, a new record.

In Atlanta, about a dozen voters were lined up before sunrise at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. First in line was Ginnie House, shivering in the cold, waiting to cast a vote.

"I lost my absentee ballot and I'm not going to miss this vote," said House, 22, an actor and creative writing student, who flew back to Atlanta from New York just for the election.

She said she was voting for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, a former vice president seeking to replace the Republican incumbent Donald Trump in the White House.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-aid-worker-released-from-egyptian-jail-after-trumps-intervention-asks-people-to-vote-for-biden-340283" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Aid worker released from Egyptian jail after Trump's intervention asks people to vote for Biden</a>

At a polling station in Houston, Andy Valadez was blowing a shofar, a ritual trumpet made from a ram's horn used in Jewish and some Christian ceremonies. In this instance, the horn was a way to pray for a Trump victory, Valadez said.

"We want to pray for a fair election," the 55-year-old marketing executive said, his shofar wrapped in a U.S. flag. "We believe in America and want everyone to have a safe voting experience."

TENSIONS FROM TIMES SQUARE TO TEXAS

The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups said they were watching closely for signs of voter intimidation, and the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said it was deploying staff to 18 states.

Staff at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washington-based advocacy group, told reporters they were concerned about voting machines not working in three counties in Georgia, forcing voters to fill in paper ballots and raising concerns the paper back-ups would run out.

Business owners in some cities nailed plywood slabs over street-level windows for fear that civil unrest could break out later, especially if the election's outcome were delayed.

In New York City, the Empire State Building and Macy's department store were among those boarded up. On Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, staff had stripped the display windows at Tiffany &amp; Co. and Van Cleef &amp; Arpels of their jewels.

Although Tuesday was unfolding with relative calm, tensions had flared around the country in the run-up to Election Day.

Trump supporters driving pick-up trucks down a Texas highway on Friday surrounded a tour bus carrying Biden campaign staff. In North Carolina over the weekend, police pepper-sprayed a group of mostly Democrats marching to polling stations. And members of an anti-government militia group were charged last month with plotting to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan.

Trump supporters planned more vehicle caravans on Tuesday similar to those that jammed traffic in New York and elsewhere. Some election security experts worried these rolling demonstrations could intimidate voters or spiral into violent confrontations.

While Election Day voting appeared to be going smoothly in most places, there were some scattered glitches.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday extended voting at four polling sites that opened late. As a result, returns from early and mail-in voting statewide would be delayed until all polls were closed, the Raleigh News &amp; Observer reported.

Likewise, Hidalgo County, Texas, said on Twitter all 74 of its polling locations would stay open an extra hour after 10 sites experienced "laptop check-in issues."

Even once votes are cast, some Americans worry about a protracted ballot count in pivotal states, forcing the country to wait for days or more before a clear winner emerges if the race is close.

Trump, whose office holds no powers over state-controlled vote-tallying, has said he thinks states should simply stop counting legal ballots once Tuesday has passed.

Americans by the millions patiently lined up on Tuesday to cast ballots at libraries, schools and arenas amid a deadly pandemic, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied deep tensions shaping one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in US history.

Americans by the millions patiently lined up on Tuesday to cast ballots at libraries, schools and arenas amid a deadly pandemic, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied deep tensions shaping one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in US history. The face masks worn by many voters and the sight of boarded-up stores in some city centers were reminders of two big issues defining the 2020 election, with COVID-19 still ravaging parts of the country after a summer of sometimes violence-marred protests against police brutality and racism. Also read: Key states in US elections 2020: Biden hopes to turn 'Red' Georgia into 'Blue' as Trump struggles The FBI and the New York attorney general's office opened investigations into spates of anonymous robocalls urging people in several states to stay home. And a federal judge ordered the U.S. Postal Service to conduct a sweep of some facilities across the country for undelivered mail-in ballots and to ship them immediately to election offices to be counted. Civil liberties groups and law enforcement were on high alert for interference with voters at the polls, but few if any major disruptions were reported by late afternoon. In a troubling incident in the battleground state of North Carolina, a man legally carrying an unconcealed firearm was arrested and charged with trespassing at a polling site in Charlotte. Police said the suspect, Justin Dunn, 36, had loitered at the site after voting in the morning, "possibly intimidating other voters." A precinct official asked him to leave and he returned two hours later, when he was taken into custody, authorities said. Also read: US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway In New York City, some voting lines snaked around blocks, but in many places, from Los Angeles to Detroit and Atlanta, lines were short or non-existent. Poll workers guessed this was due to an unprecedented wave of early voting. More than 100 million ballots were cast before Election Day, a new record. In Atlanta, about a dozen voters were lined up before sunrise at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. First in line was Ginnie House, shivering in the cold, waiting to cast a vote. "I lost my absentee ballot and I'm not going to miss this vote," said House, 22, an actor and creative writing student, who flew back to Atlanta from New York just for the election. She said she was voting for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, a former vice president seeking to replace the Republican incumbent Donald Trump in the White House. Also read: US election 2020: Aid worker released from Egyptian jail after Trump's intervention asks people to vote for Biden At a polling station in Houston, Andy Valadez was blowing a shofar, a ritual trumpet made from a ram's horn used in Jewish and some Christian ceremonies. In this instance, the horn was a way to pray for a Trump victory, Valadez said. "We want to pray for a fair election," the 55-year-old marketing executive said, his shofar wrapped in a U.S. flag. "We believe in America and want everyone to have a safe voting experience." TENSIONS FROM TIMES SQUARE TO TEXAS The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups said they were watching closely for signs of voter intimidation, and the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said it was deploying staff to 18 states. Staff at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washington-based advocacy group, told reporters they were concerned about voting machines not working in three counties in Georgia, forcing voters to fill in paper ballots and raising concerns the paper back-ups would run out. Business owners in some cities nailed plywood slabs over street-level windows for fear that civil unrest could break out later, especially if the election's outcome were delayed. In New York City, the Empire State Building and Macy's department store were among those boarded up. On Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, staff had stripped the display windows at Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels of their jewels. Although Tuesday was unfolding with relative calm, tensions had flared around the country in the run-up to Election Day. Trump supporters driving pick-up trucks down a Texas highway on Friday surrounded a tour bus carrying Biden campaign staff. In North Carolina over the weekend, police pepper-sprayed a group of mostly Democrats marching to polling stations. And members of an anti-government militia group were charged last month with plotting to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan. Trump supporters planned more vehicle caravans on Tuesday similar to those that jammed traffic in New York and elsewhere. Some election security experts worried these rolling demonstrations could intimidate voters or spiral into violent confrontations. While Election Day voting appeared to be going smoothly in most places, there were some scattered glitches. The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday extended voting at four polling sites that opened late. As a result, returns from early and mail-in voting statewide would be delayed until all polls were closed, the Raleigh News & Observer reported. Likewise, Hidalgo County, Texas, said on Twitter all 74 of its polling locations would stay open an extra hour after 10 sites experienced "laptop check-in issues." Even once votes are cast, some Americans worry about a protracted ballot count in pivotal states, forcing the country to wait for days or more before a clear winner emerges if the race is close. Trump, whose office holds no powers over state-controlled vote-tallying, has said he thinks states should simply stop counting legal ballots once Tuesday has passed.

US Election 2020: Election day unfolds smoothly, defying fears of disruption

President Donald Trump falsely claimed victory over Democratic rival Joe Biden on Wednesday (November 4) with millions of votes still uncounted in a White House race that will not be decided until a handful of states complete vote-counting over the next hours or days.

Donald Trump falsely claims victory with results from key states unclear

The United States is currently voting for its next president, whereby the incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections.&nbsp;

With polling set to end soon across multiple states, Joe Biden urged Americans to vote, but taking on a more profound tone than a few hours ago.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-elections-2020-crucial-states-that-could-determine-course-of-the-race-340196">Crucial states that could determine course of the race</a>

"This is our moment to prove that: Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. Light is more powerful than dark. Vote before polls close", he tweeted out.

A 3:00 IST, he had tweeted out the following: "Who we are. What we stand for. Who we are going to be. It's all at stake — and you have the power to determine the outcome".

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This is our moment to prove that: 
 
Love is more powerful than hate. 
Hope is more powerful than fear. 
Light is more powerful than dark. 
 
Vote before polls close: <a href="https://t.co/eoxT07d7QB">https://t.co/eoxT07d7QB</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1323753975221522433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In Delaware, Biden had said, "There’s just so much in play right now … We’ll see.&nbsp;If there’s something to talk about tonight, I’ll talk about it. If not, I’ll wait ‘til the votes are counted the next day" after he was asked by reporters whether he had something to share, and whether he would commit to a plan as soon as results are announced.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-heres-what-voting-looks-like-in-uncertain-times-340260">US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times</a>

On being asked whether he intends to answer Trump incase the incumbent president declares victory before final counting, he said, "It depends on what he says and how he says it."

"Presidents can’t determine what votes counted or not counted and, you know, voters determine who is president," Biden said.

"No matter what he does or what he says, the votes are going to be counted", CNN quoted him as saying.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-biden-eye-florida-as-battleground-states-hold-sway-340285" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway</a>

While talking about voting trajectory, Biden said that "It’s just so uncertain".&nbsp;"Look, you can’t think of an election in the recent past where so many states are up for grabs. The idea I’m in play in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida — I mean, come on. Texas?"

Meanwhile,&nbsp;US President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-country-entitled-to-know-who-won-on-november-3-says-trump-340238">Trump</a>&nbsp;predicted that he would win "very big" in Florida.&nbsp;

"We think we are winning Texas very big. We think we are winning&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;very big. We think we are winning Arizona very big," Trump said.

The United States is currently voting for its next president, whereby the incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections.

The United States is currently voting for its next president, whereby the incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections. With polling set to end soon across multiple states, Joe Biden urged Americans to vote, but taking on a more profound tone than a few hours ago. In Pics: Crucial states that could determine course of the race "This is our moment to prove that: Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. Light is more powerful than dark. Vote before polls close", he tweeted out. A 3:00 IST, he had tweeted out the following: "Who we are. What we stand for. Who we are going to be. It's all at stake — and you have the power to determine the outcome". This is our moment to prove that: Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. Light is more powerful than dark. Vote before polls close: https://t.co/eoxT07d7QB — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 3, 2020 × In Delaware, Biden had said, "There’s just so much in play right now … We’ll see. If there’s something to talk about tonight, I’ll talk about it. If not, I’ll wait ‘til the votes are counted the next day" after he was asked by reporters whether he had something to share, and whether he would commit to a plan as soon as results are announced. In Pics: US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times On being asked whether he intends to answer Trump incase the incumbent president declares victory before final counting, he said, "It depends on what he says and how he says it." "Presidents can’t determine what votes counted or not counted and, you know, voters determine who is president," Biden said. "No matter what he does or what he says, the votes are going to be counted", CNN quoted him as saying. Also read: US Elections 2020: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway While talking about voting trajectory, Biden said that "It’s just so uncertain". "Look, you can’t think of an election in the recent past where so many states are up for grabs. The idea I’m in play in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida — I mean, come on. Texas?" Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump predicted that he would win "very big" in Florida. "We think we are winning Texas very big. We think we are winning Florida very big. We think we are winning Arizona very big," Trump said.

US election 2020: Biden shares a profound message about love and light while the US votes

Anti-Trump protesters march in D.C. on election night | US Election 2020

The world has its eyes on America as it elects its 46th President today. While the results are yet to be announced, the ongoing counting and the narrow chase to the power is enough to keep the voters anxious. Celebrities are no different. While many have already cast their votes, there are others who are not a citizen but closely observing the proceedings. This election has seen a great divide, with celebrities being quite vocal about their support and encouraging&nbsp;citizens to come out and exercise their right to vote for a better future.&nbsp;

As the counting is underway, many celebs took to social media&nbsp;to discuss their feelings about the elections and asked the fans to stay calm and hope. Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted to remind his fans that absentee votes may not be counted until the end of the week. “Take a deep breath folks,” he wrote. “Remember the #RedMirage we won’t know in important states tonight.” 
&nbsp;

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Take a deep breath folks. Remember the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedMirage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedMirage</a> we won’t know in important states tonight. <a href="https://t.co/EtTaAzLckI">https://t.co/EtTaAzLckI</a>
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkRuffalo/status/1323840566971478017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Katy Perry reminded voters that every vote counts.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COUNTEVERYVOTE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COUNTEVERYVOTE</a> <a href="https://t.co/stZn1j7ky0">pic.twitter.com/stZn1j7ky0</a>
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) <a href="https://twitter.com/katyperry/status/1323824071851663363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Charlize Theron admitted&nbsp;to fans that they're a mess of anxiety right now but also celebrated the win of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender senator in the US history.

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We are all a mess of anxiety right now but at least we can celebrate this incredible news 🙌🏻 <a href="https://t.co/MlUMCnXfEF">https://t.co/MlUMCnXfEF</a>
— Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlizeAfrica/status/1323847316734791680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Elizabeth Banks kept it real, writing: “I’m just pacing back and forth. At least I’m burning off the gallon of ice cream I just ate.”&nbsp;

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I’m just pacing back and forth. At least I’m burning off the gallon of ice cream I just ate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionNight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionNight</a>
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethBanks/status/1323791473716854784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump has won the state of Florida, commenting on it Josh Gad, who has been an open supporter of Biden-Harris wrote, “This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused.” 
&nbsp;

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Hey gang, I’m a Floridian. This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused. 🙏
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) <a></a>

<a>Hey gang, I’m a Floridian. This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused. 🙏</a>
<a>— Josh Gad (@joshgad) </a><a href="https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/1323790919523471361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>href="https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/1323790919523471361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;November 4, 2020 <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Commenting upon the amount of time being taken, Kumail Nanjiani wrote, "What time is it? It feels like a million o'clock"

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What time is it? It feels like a million o'clock
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) <a href="https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/1323829930979848192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The US media gives Biden 224 electoral votes and Trump 213 after Nebraska split its electoral votes between the two -- four for Trump and one for Biden, CNN and Fox News projected.

A number of key battleground states are still up in the air, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.&nbsp;

The magic number of electoral votes is 270.&nbsp;

The world has its eyes on America as it elects its 46th President today. While the results are yet to be announced, the ongoing counting and the narrow chase to the power is enough to keep the voters anxious.

The world has its eyes on America as it elects its 46th President today. While the results are yet to be announced, the ongoing counting and the narrow chase to the power is enough to keep the voters anxious. Celebrities are no different. While many have already cast their votes, there are others who are not a citizen but closely observing the proceedings. This election has seen a great divide, with celebrities being quite vocal about their support and encouraging citizens to come out and exercise their right to vote for a better future. As the counting is underway, many celebs took to social media to discuss their feelings about the elections and asked the fans to stay calm and hope. Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted to remind his fans that absentee votes may not be counted until the end of the week. “Take a deep breath folks,” he wrote. “Remember the #RedMirage we won’t know in important states tonight.” Take a deep breath folks. Remember the #RedMirage we won’t know in important states tonight. https://t.co/EtTaAzLckI — Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 4, 2020 × Katy Perry reminded voters that every vote counts. #COUNTEVERYVOTE pic.twitter.com/stZn1j7ky0 — KATY PERRY (@katyperry) November 4, 2020 × Charlize Theron admitted to fans that they're a mess of anxiety right now but also celebrated the win of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender senator in the US history. We are all a mess of anxiety right now but at least we can celebrate this incredible news 🙌🏻 https://t.co/MlUMCnXfEF — Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) November 4, 2020 × Elizabeth Banks kept it real, writing: “I’m just pacing back and forth. At least I’m burning off the gallon of ice cream I just ate.” I’m just pacing back and forth. At least I’m burning off the gallon of ice cream I just ate. #ElectionNight — Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) November 4, 2020 × Trump has won the state of Florida, commenting on it Josh Gad, who has been an open supporter of Biden-Harris wrote, “This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused.” Hey gang, I’m a Floridian. This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused. 🙏 — Josh Gad (@joshgad) Hey gang, I’m a Floridian. This election isn’t for the President of Florida. It’s for President of the United States. Do not sweat FL. It will do what it always does and be Florida. Keep voting where you can and stay focused. 🙏 — Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 4, 2020 href="https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/1323790919523471361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2020 × Commenting upon the amount of time being taken, Kumail Nanjiani wrote, "What time is it? It feels like a million o'clock" What time is it? It feels like a million o'clock — Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) November 4, 2020 × The US media gives Biden 224 electoral votes and Trump 213 after Nebraska split its electoral votes between the two -- four for Trump and one for Biden, CNN and Fox News projected. A number of key battleground states are still up in the air, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The magic number of electoral votes is 270.

We are a mess of anxiety: Celebrities tweet amid narrow chase between Trump and Biden

US election 2020: As the United States picks its next president, Joe Biden has found support from an American who was jailed in Egypt, and released after Donald Trump's intervention.

An American aid worker who was jailed in Egypt for three years - Aya Hijazi has extended her support to Democratic hopeful Joe Biden. Ironically, Donald Trump had intervened personally to get Hijazi out of Egyptian jail.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/win-or-lose-trump-and-bidens-parties-will-plunge-into-uncertainty-340281" hreflang="en">Win or Lose, Trump and Biden’s parties will plunge into uncertainty</a>

According to Hijazi, soon after she was released in April 2017, Trump was quick to make the release about himself, instead of focusing on the gravity of her situation.

In a tweet, she claimed that during her “most vulnerable moment in life”, Trump reminded her of the reason behind her release, ie, him.

“Trump leaned in &amp; said, ‘You know it’s I who released you, don’t you? I succeeded &amp; Obama failed’ in the most vulnerable moment of my life, 48 hrs after releasing me from prison,” Hijazi&nbsp;said in a tweet.

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Trump leaned in &amp; said, "you know it's I who released you, don't you? I succeeded &amp; Obama failed" in the most vulnerable moment of my life, 48 hrs after releasing me from prison 
It was never about me like it was never about us. It's about his ego. We deserve better <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteBiden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoteBiden</a> <a href="https://t.co/SMhaAHKfWi">pic.twitter.com/SMhaAHKfWi</a>
— Aya Hijazi آية حجازي (@_AyaHijazi_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_AyaHijazi_/status/1323340710674944002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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To make her distrust apparent, she shared a picture of herself with Donald Trump at the White House, which was clicked soon after her release. “It was never about me like it was never about us. It’s about his ego. We deserve better #VoteBiden”, she added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everything-is-on-the-line-proclaims-obama-while-urging-americans-to-vote-340277" hreflang="en">'Everything is on the line', proclaims Obama while urging Americans to vote</a>

According to Hijazi, Trump expects “loyalty” to ensure control. In a following tweet, she accused Trump of demanding “loyalty as a means of maintaining control.”

“But the government should not help citizens to make them loyal; it should do help b/c it’s the right thing to do #VoteBidenHarrisToSaveAmerica,” Hijazi added in her tweet, while endorsing Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President in the ongoing elections.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-heres-what-voting-looks-like-in-uncertain-times-340260" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times</a>

Hijazi was put in jail for running a nonprofit organisation which sought to help street children. After Trump’s intervention, she was released. On multiple occasions, Trump has claimed that he has&nbsp;done more for Americans who were outside abroad than previous presidents.

US election 2020: As the United States picks its next president, Joe Biden has found support from an American who was jailed in Egypt, and released after Donald Trump's intervention.

US election 2020: As the United States picks its next president, Joe Biden has found support from an American who was jailed in Egypt, and released after Donald Trump's intervention. An American aid worker who was jailed in Egypt for three years - Aya Hijazi has extended her support to Democratic hopeful Joe Biden. Ironically, Donald Trump had intervened personally to get Hijazi out of Egyptian jail. Also read: Win or Lose, Trump and Biden’s parties will plunge into uncertainty According to Hijazi, soon after she was released in April 2017, Trump was quick to make the release about himself, instead of focusing on the gravity of her situation. In a tweet, she claimed that during her “most vulnerable moment in life”, Trump reminded her of the reason behind her release, ie, him. “Trump leaned in & said, ‘You know it’s I who released you, don’t you? I succeeded & Obama failed’ in the most vulnerable moment of my life, 48 hrs after releasing me from prison,” Hijazi said in a tweet. Trump leaned in & said, "you know it's I who released you, don't you? I succeeded & Obama failed" in the most vulnerable moment of my life, 48 hrs after releasing me from prison It was never about me like it was never about us. It's about his ego. We deserve better #VoteBiden pic.twitter.com/SMhaAHKfWi — Aya Hijazi آية حجازي (@_AyaHijazi_) November 2, 2020 × To make her distrust apparent, she shared a picture of herself with Donald Trump at the White House, which was clicked soon after her release. “It was never about me like it was never about us. It’s about his ego. We deserve better #VoteBiden”, she added. Also read: 'Everything is on the line', proclaims Obama while urging Americans to vote According to Hijazi, Trump expects “loyalty” to ensure control. In a following tweet, she accused Trump of demanding “loyalty as a means of maintaining control.” “But the government should not help citizens to make them loyal; it should do help b/c it’s the right thing to do #VoteBidenHarrisToSaveAmerica,” Hijazi added in her tweet, while endorsing Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President in the ongoing elections. In Pics: US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times Hijazi was put in jail for running a nonprofit organisation which sought to help street children. After Trump’s intervention, she was released. On multiple occasions, Trump has claimed that he has done more for Americans who were outside abroad than previous presidents.

US election 2020: Aid worker released from Egyptian jail after Trump's intervention asks people to vote for Biden

Facing the toughest race of his Senate career, John Cornyn warned a small crowd of supporters from the second floor of his campaign bus last week that his party’s long-held dominance in this historically ruby-red state was at risk.

But while the three-term Texas senator demonized Democrats at length, he didn’t spend much time talking up the obvious alternative: President Donald Trump, the leader of his party, the man at the top of his ticket Tuesday.

Asked whether Trump, the man who redefined Republicanism, was an asset to Cornyn’s reelection effort, the senator was suddenly short on words.

“Absolutely,” he said, stone-faced.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-social-media-firms-like-facebook-twitter-on-alert-for-election-day-misinformation-340278" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Social media firms like Facebook, Twitter on alert for Election Day misinformation</a>

Cornyn’s gentle distancing from Trump foreshadows a far less genteel battle to come. This year’s election seems likely to plunge both Republicans and Democrats into a period of disarray no matter who wins the White House. With moderates and progressives poised to battle each other on the left, and an array of forces looking to chart a post-Trump future on the right (be it in 2021 or in four years), both parties appear destined for an ideological wilderness in the months ahead as each tries to sort out its identities and priorities.

The questions facing partisans on both sides are sweeping and remain largely unresolved despite more than a year of a tumultuous presidential campaign. After Democrats cast their eyes backward several generations for a more moderate nominee, does a rising liberal wing represent their future? And what becomes of a Republican Party that has been redefined by the president’s populist approach, and politicians like Cornyn who have been in the long shadow of Trump for four years?

Traditionally, presidential elections provide clarity on how a party sees its political future. When Barack Obama won the White House in 2008, he reinvigorated a progressive public image of his increasingly diverse party. Eight years earlier, George W. Bush remade Republicanism with a message of “compassionate conservatism.”

Today, with both presidential candidates content to make the race a referendum on Trump, questions about him have overshadowed the debates raging within both parties over how to govern a country in the midst of a national crisis.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everything-is-on-the-line-proclaims-obama-while-urging-americans-to-vote-340277" hreflang="en">'Everything is on the line', proclaims Obama while urging Americans to vote</a>

“Both sides have been content to make this election about a personality,” said Brad Todd, a Republican strategist and an author of a book about the conservative populist coalition that fueled Trump’s victory in 2016. “Therefore, we’ve not had a lot of light shown on the ideological realignment that’s occurred in the country.”

The jockeying has already begun. If Biden wins, progressive Democrats are preparing to break their election-season truce, laying plans to push for liberals in key government posts, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts as Treasury secretary. If Biden loses, progressives will argue that he failed to embrace a liberal enough platform.

Ambitious Republicans, like former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have begun appearing in Iowa, stops that they say are on behalf of their party’s embattled Senate candidate there but that have distinctly 2024 overtones.

“The party is headed toward a reckoning, whatever happens in November, because you still have large segments of the party establishment that are not at all reconciled with the president’s victory in 2016,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who is frequently mentioned as a possible 2024 contender. “These people are still very powerful in the Republican Party, and I think we’ll have a real fight for the future.”

The emerging dynamics are particularly stark across in Texas and other states in the Sun Belt, a fast-growing region that embodies the demographic trends that will eventually reshape the nation.

For Republicans like Cornyn, the battle lines are already being drawn. Four years ago, Trump mounted a hostile takeover of the Republican Party, winning the support of the party’s base with a message that shredded mainstream conservative ideology on issues like fiscal responsibility, foreign policy and trade.

A contingent of the party’s old guard is eager to cast the president as an aberration, a detour into nationalism, populism and conspiracy theories with no serious policy underpinning.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-heres-how-american-leaders-are-urging-people-to-go-out-and-vote-340269" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's how American leaders are urging people to go out and vote</a>

Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he expected Trump to lose and that he hoped the defeat would refocus the party from “anger and resentment” to developing an inclusive message that could win in an increasingly diverse country.

“Nothing focuses the mind like a big election loss,” said Flake, who was one of many Republicans to retire in 2018 and who has endorsed Biden for president. “The bigger the better when it comes to the president.”

He added, “Trumpism is a demographic cul-de-sac.”

Flake would like the party to resurrect its 2012 “autopsy,” an assessment commissioned by the Republican National Committee to explore why the party had lost its bid for the White House that year. The report urged the party to better embrace voters of color and women.

A co-chair of the project, Ari Fleischer, said there was no returning to the days of that message. Trump, he said, had accomplished the goal of the report, expanding the party — just in a different way.

Rather than engage women or voters of color, the president expanded Republican margins with white, working-class voters, said Fleischer, a former press secretary for Bush who has come to embrace Trump after leaving his ballot blank in 2016.

Sara Fagen, who was the White House political director for Bush, agreed: “Trumpism is cemented in,” she said. “The base of the party has changed; their priorities are different than where the Romneys and Bushes would have taken the country.”

Hawley argued that Republicans should embrace the populist energy of their voters by pursuing the breakup of big technology companies, voicing skepticism of free trade and making colleges more accountable for their high tuition costs.

“If the party is going to have a future, it’s got to become the party of working people,” he said.

Texas may provide a preview of these debates. As Democrats continue to make gains in the state and as the coronavirus rages there, moderate Republicans have tried to steer the state closer to the center while conservatives have tried to push Texas further right.

Hard-line Republican legislators, lawyers and activists have sued Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, formally censured him and protested mandates like a statewide mask order. Over the summer, the party elected a new chairman, Allen B. West, a former Florida congressman and firebrand conservative.

“The governor has continued to issue executive orders that are anything but conservative,” said Jared Woodfill, a conservative activist and Houston lawyer who has sued Abbott. “His base has left him completely.”

Democrats face their own divides over whether to use the moment of national crisis to push for far-reaching structural changes on issues like health care, economic inequality and climate change.

Like Republicans in 2012, Democrats assembled their own task force to try to unify their party after the crowded party primary this year. The group came up with recommendations that were largely broader than what Biden championed in his primary bid but that stopped short of embracing key progressive policies like “Medicare for All,” the Green New Deal and a fracking ban.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus and an ally of Sen. Bernie Sanders, said those plans were the “floor, not the ceiling” of what the liberal wing of the party plans to demand should Biden win. A White House victory, she argued, would give Biden a mandate to push for more sweeping overhauls.

Facing the toughest race of his Senate career, John Cornyn warned a small crowd of supporters from the second floor of his campaign bus last week that his party’s long-held dominance in this historically ruby-red state was at risk.

Facing the toughest race of his Senate career, John Cornyn warned a small crowd of supporters from the second floor of his campaign bus last week that his party’s long-held dominance in this historically ruby-red state was at risk. But while the three-term Texas senator demonized Democrats at length, he didn’t spend much time talking up the obvious alternative: President Donald Trump, the leader of his party, the man at the top of his ticket Tuesday. Asked whether Trump, the man who redefined Republicanism, was an asset to Cornyn’s reelection effort, the senator was suddenly short on words. “Absolutely,” he said, stone-faced. Also read: US election 2020: Social media firms like Facebook, Twitter on alert for Election Day misinformation Cornyn’s gentle distancing from Trump foreshadows a far less genteel battle to come. This year’s election seems likely to plunge both Republicans and Democrats into a period of disarray no matter who wins the White House. With moderates and progressives poised to battle each other on the left, and an array of forces looking to chart a post-Trump future on the right (be it in 2021 or in four years), both parties appear destined for an ideological wilderness in the months ahead as each tries to sort out its identities and priorities. The questions facing partisans on both sides are sweeping and remain largely unresolved despite more than a year of a tumultuous presidential campaign. After Democrats cast their eyes backward several generations for a more moderate nominee, does a rising liberal wing represent their future? And what becomes of a Republican Party that has been redefined by the president’s populist approach, and politicians like Cornyn who have been in the long shadow of Trump for four years? Traditionally, presidential elections provide clarity on how a party sees its political future. When Barack Obama won the White House in 2008, he reinvigorated a progressive public image of his increasingly diverse party. Eight years earlier, George W. Bush remade Republicanism with a message of “compassionate conservatism.” Today, with both presidential candidates content to make the race a referendum on Trump, questions about him have overshadowed the debates raging within both parties over how to govern a country in the midst of a national crisis. Also read: 'Everything is on the line', proclaims Obama while urging Americans to vote “Both sides have been content to make this election about a personality,” said Brad Todd, a Republican strategist and an author of a book about the conservative populist coalition that fueled Trump’s victory in 2016. “Therefore, we’ve not had a lot of light shown on the ideological realignment that’s occurred in the country.” The jockeying has already begun. If Biden wins, progressive Democrats are preparing to break their election-season truce, laying plans to push for liberals in key government posts, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts as Treasury secretary. If Biden loses, progressives will argue that he failed to embrace a liberal enough platform. Ambitious Republicans, like former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have begun appearing in Iowa, stops that they say are on behalf of their party’s embattled Senate candidate there but that have distinctly 2024 overtones. “The party is headed toward a reckoning, whatever happens in November, because you still have large segments of the party establishment that are not at all reconciled with the president’s victory in 2016,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who is frequently mentioned as a possible 2024 contender. “These people are still very powerful in the Republican Party, and I think we’ll have a real fight for the future.” The emerging dynamics are particularly stark across in Texas and other states in the Sun Belt, a fast-growing region that embodies the demographic trends that will eventually reshape the nation. For Republicans like Cornyn, the battle lines are already being drawn. Four years ago, Trump mounted a hostile takeover of the Republican Party, winning the support of the party’s base with a message that shredded mainstream conservative ideology on issues like fiscal responsibility, foreign policy and trade. A contingent of the party’s old guard is eager to cast the president as an aberration, a detour into nationalism, populism and conspiracy theories with no serious policy underpinning. Also read: US election 2020: Here's how American leaders are urging people to go out and vote Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he expected Trump to lose and that he hoped the defeat would refocus the party from “anger and resentment” to developing an inclusive message that could win in an increasingly diverse country. “Nothing focuses the mind like a big election loss,” said Flake, who was one of many Republicans to retire in 2018 and who has endorsed Biden for president. “The bigger the better when it comes to the president.” He added, “Trumpism is a demographic cul-de-sac.” Flake would like the party to resurrect its 2012 “autopsy,” an assessment commissioned by the Republican National Committee to explore why the party had lost its bid for the White House that year. The report urged the party to better embrace voters of color and women. A co-chair of the project, Ari Fleischer, said there was no returning to the days of that message. Trump, he said, had accomplished the goal of the report, expanding the party — just in a different way. Rather than engage women or voters of color, the president expanded Republican margins with white, working-class voters, said Fleischer, a former press secretary for Bush who has come to embrace Trump after leaving his ballot blank in 2016. Sara Fagen, who was the White House political director for Bush, agreed: “Trumpism is cemented in,” she said. “The base of the party has changed; their priorities are different than where the Romneys and Bushes would have taken the country.” Hawley argued that Republicans should embrace the populist energy of their voters by pursuing the breakup of big technology companies, voicing skepticism of free trade and making colleges more accountable for their high tuition costs. “If the party is going to have a future, it’s got to become the party of working people,” he said. Texas may provide a preview of these debates. As Democrats continue to make gains in the state and as the coronavirus rages there, moderate Republicans have tried to steer the state closer to the center while conservatives have tried to push Texas further right. Hard-line Republican legislators, lawyers and activists have sued Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, formally censured him and protested mandates like a statewide mask order. Over the summer, the party elected a new chairman, Allen B. West, a former Florida congressman and firebrand conservative. “The governor has continued to issue executive orders that are anything but conservative,” said Jared Woodfill, a conservative activist and Houston lawyer who has sued Abbott. “His base has left him completely.” Democrats face their own divides over whether to use the moment of national crisis to push for far-reaching structural changes on issues like health care, economic inequality and climate change. Like Republicans in 2012, Democrats assembled their own task force to try to unify their party after the crowded party primary this year. The group came up with recommendations that were largely broader than what Biden championed in his primary bid but that stopped short of embracing key progressive policies like “Medicare for All,” the Green New Deal and a fracking ban. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus and an ally of Sen. Bernie Sanders, said those plans were the “floor, not the ceiling” of what the liberal wing of the party plans to demand should Biden win. A White House victory, she argued, would give Biden a mandate to push for more sweeping overhauls.

Win or Lose, Trump and Biden’s parties will plunge into uncertainty

With a president refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power, a number of commentators have been sounding the alarm about a “rickety” U.S. electoral system seen as uniquely vulnerable to a postelection crisis. Legal scholars and a group called the Transition Integrity Project have been examining the ways in which the machinery could fail, and the nightmare scenarios gamed out are hair-raising. But while looking at points of possible legal failure is a useful exercise, it neglects an important question: Who has the power to concede?

Ultimately, all democratic transitions are based on one side being willing to concede power to another. Without a concession at some stage, power must be allocated by force: Either the military must decide, or there is civil war. There is growing concern that the United States may be arriving at a moment where a concession is no longer achievable — but if this is the case, this is ultimately a problem with the state of American politics, not its legal machinery.

To the extent that the electoral machinery matters, the American system is in many ways surprisingly robust. In ordinary presidential systems elsewhere, an election commission announces the outcome. Then, the political spotlight shifts immediately to the defeated candidate, who must make the crucial decision: Will they accept the result? It is a democracy’s most defining and most perilous moment.

By comparison, America’s electoral machinery, for all its oddities and flaws, offers greater systemic safeguards. What elsewhere is a single decision by an individual is in the United States spread out over up to two and a half months, set within a labyrinthine array of legal procedures — procedures that vest the power to concede in a vast number of actors across the constitutional system.

Any presidential election in the United States takes place in two stages: the vote-counting stage at the state level ahead of the Electoral College vote in mid-December, and a second stage in January when Congress counts the electoral votes.

The first stage involves innumerable local and state officials and courts. If even a small number of these actors break partisan ranks, they can effectively concede the election: a governor that certifies results supporting the opposing party, a judicial ruling that both sides agree to obey.

State legislatures in the United States have an untested reserve power that allows them to ignore their state’s vote and appoint electors themselves. This has been portrayed as a grave danger to the system, providing yet another way for a presidential election to go off the rails. But it also serves to imbue even more actors within the system with the power to concede. A very small group of state legislators can break partisan ranks and yield an election on behalf of a presidential candidate.

The 2000 election was arguably the closest in history, decided by Florida by a margin of one one-hundredth of one percent, so close that we will never know who the true winner of the state was: Media recounts months later concluded that the results would change depending on which counting method was used. Even so, a concession occurred before the second stage.

That next stage, when Congress convenes in January to count the electoral votes, provides further opportunities for concession. If a state’s electoral votes are disputed, the House and Senate meet separately to adjudicate the controversy. A potentially small number of representatives or senators can break rank, conceding the election by agreeing to resolve the dispute in favor of the other party. There is a potentially dangerous legal ambiguity here: If the House and Senate arrive at different decisions, the law governing the proceedings is unclear about how to reconcile them, with the potential for an unresolvable constitutional deadlock. But while legally dangerous, politically this ambiguity — along with the deadline of Inauguration Day — only serves to ratchet up the pressure to fold. The vice-president, who presides over the vote count, may have a last opportunity to concede a disputed election by choosing to resolve this ambiguity in favor of the opposing party. The process culminates in an official pronouncement of the next duly elected president by the vice-president, with the speaker of the House by his side.

Only once has a disputed electoral vote count reached the second stage. In the 1876 election, Congress invented a procedure to resolve the crisis, punting the disputes to an appointed commission.

The House and Senate could vote on the commission’s recommendation — but if the two houses disagreed, the commission’s decision would stand. The commission first recommended, on an 8-to-7 partisan vote, that Florida’s disputed electoral votes be allocated to the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes. But while the Republican Senate endorsed the recommendation, the Democratic House rejected it. The pivotal moment came immediately afterward: With the speaker of the House at his side, the vice-president announced that the commission’s decision stood. The Democrats accepted the call; they allowed the count to continue.

This was the first crucial part of concession. A few weeks later, the vice-president, with the speaker at his side, would oversee the completion of the count, and proclaim Hayes as president. A threat of chaos after Inauguration Day was the Democrats’ only remaining weapon. Hayes provided certain reassurances, though the nature of those reassurances — the “Compromise of 1877” — is still disputed by historians today. Among them, however, appears to have been a promise regarding three Southern states where Black Republicans still held political power, protected by federal troops. Following 1877, the troops’ protection was withdrawn and white Democrats took control, with lasting consequences.

America’s electoral machinery provides many, many opportunities to find concession. But fundamentally, it still must be one of the parties that defers. Candidates must show a willingness to step back from the precipice. The nightmare scenarios necessarily presume that not only might a candidate reject the election result, but that an entire party will do so at every level within the system. If this comes true, the American experiment is probably over in any case.

If the American experiment is finished, the United States’ unusually complicated electoral machinery merely guides how it would end: Elsewhere, an aspiring autocrat must corrupt or defy an electoral commission to kill a democracy. Determined Americans could kill theirs through obscurities of constitutional hardball.

Peaceful transitions of power require political will. In the end, people on one side must step back from the brink.

If history is any guide, they will.

With a president refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power, a number of commentators have been sounding the alarm about a “rickety” U.S. electoral system seen as uniquely vulnerable to a postelection crisis.

With a president refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power, a number of commentators have been sounding the alarm about a “rickety” U.S. electoral system seen as uniquely vulnerable to a postelection crisis. Legal scholars and a group called the Transition Integrity Project have been examining the ways in which the machinery could fail, and the nightmare scenarios gamed out are hair-raising. But while looking at points of possible legal failure is a useful exercise, it neglects an important question: Who has the power to concede? Ultimately, all democratic transitions are based on one side being willing to concede power to another. Without a concession at some stage, power must be allocated by force: Either the military must decide, or there is civil war. There is growing concern that the United States may be arriving at a moment where a concession is no longer achievable — but if this is the case, this is ultimately a problem with the state of American politics, not its legal machinery. To the extent that the electoral machinery matters, the American system is in many ways surprisingly robust. In ordinary presidential systems elsewhere, an election commission announces the outcome. Then, the political spotlight shifts immediately to the defeated candidate, who must make the crucial decision: Will they accept the result? It is a democracy’s most defining and most perilous moment. By comparison, America’s electoral machinery, for all its oddities and flaws, offers greater systemic safeguards. What elsewhere is a single decision by an individual is in the United States spread out over up to two and a half months, set within a labyrinthine array of legal procedures — procedures that vest the power to concede in a vast number of actors across the constitutional system. Any presidential election in the United States takes place in two stages: the vote-counting stage at the state level ahead of the Electoral College vote in mid-December, and a second stage in January when Congress counts the electoral votes. The first stage involves innumerable local and state officials and courts. If even a small number of these actors break partisan ranks, they can effectively concede the election: a governor that certifies results supporting the opposing party, a judicial ruling that both sides agree to obey. State legislatures in the United States have an untested reserve power that allows them to ignore their state’s vote and appoint electors themselves. This has been portrayed as a grave danger to the system, providing yet another way for a presidential election to go off the rails. But it also serves to imbue even more actors within the system with the power to concede. A very small group of state legislators can break partisan ranks and yield an election on behalf of a presidential candidate. The 2000 election was arguably the closest in history, decided by Florida by a margin of one one-hundredth of one percent, so close that we will never know who the true winner of the state was: Media recounts months later concluded that the results would change depending on which counting method was used. Even so, a concession occurred before the second stage. That next stage, when Congress convenes in January to count the electoral votes, provides further opportunities for concession. If a state’s electoral votes are disputed, the House and Senate meet separately to adjudicate the controversy. A potentially small number of representatives or senators can break rank, conceding the election by agreeing to resolve the dispute in favor of the other party. There is a potentially dangerous legal ambiguity here: If the House and Senate arrive at different decisions, the law governing the proceedings is unclear about how to reconcile them, with the potential for an unresolvable constitutional deadlock. But while legally dangerous, politically this ambiguity — along with the deadline of Inauguration Day — only serves to ratchet up the pressure to fold. The vice-president, who presides over the vote count, may have a last opportunity to concede a disputed election by choosing to resolve this ambiguity in favor of the opposing party. The process culminates in an official pronouncement of the next duly elected president by the vice-president, with the speaker of the House by his side. Only once has a disputed electoral vote count reached the second stage. In the 1876 election, Congress invented a procedure to resolve the crisis, punting the disputes to an appointed commission. The House and Senate could vote on the commission’s recommendation — but if the two houses disagreed, the commission’s decision would stand. The commission first recommended, on an 8-to-7 partisan vote, that Florida’s disputed electoral votes be allocated to the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes. But while the Republican Senate endorsed the recommendation, the Democratic House rejected it. The pivotal moment came immediately afterward: With the speaker of the House at his side, the vice-president announced that the commission’s decision stood. The Democrats accepted the call; they allowed the count to continue. This was the first crucial part of concession. A few weeks later, the vice-president, with the speaker at his side, would oversee the completion of the count, and proclaim Hayes as president. A threat of chaos after Inauguration Day was the Democrats’ only remaining weapon. Hayes provided certain reassurances, though the nature of those reassurances — the “Compromise of 1877” — is still disputed by historians today. Among them, however, appears to have been a promise regarding three Southern states where Black Republicans still held political power, protected by federal troops. Following 1877, the troops’ protection was withdrawn and white Democrats took control, with lasting consequences. America’s electoral machinery provides many, many opportunities to find concession. But fundamentally, it still must be one of the parties that defers. Candidates must show a willingness to step back from the precipice. The nightmare scenarios necessarily presume that not only might a candidate reject the election result, but that an entire party will do so at every level within the system. If this comes true, the American experiment is probably over in any case. If the American experiment is finished, the United States’ unusually complicated electoral machinery merely guides how it would end: Elsewhere, an aspiring autocrat must corrupt or defy an electoral commission to kill a democracy. Determined Americans could kill theirs through obscurities of constitutional hardball. Peaceful transitions of power require political will. In the end, people on one side must step back from the brink. If history is any guide, they will.

What happens if neither Trump nor Biden concedes?

Social media firms were on high alert Tuesday against Election Day misinformation and manipulation efforts&nbsp;as voters began in-person balloting across the United States following a tumultuous campaign. 
 
Aiming to avoid the problems that occurred in the 2016 campaign, Facebook, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube were implementing policies aimed at heading off the spread of false information designed to influence or intimidate voters at the last minute. 
 
Facebook said it had activated its election hub which was monitoring the platform in real time.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-heres-how-american-leaders-are-urging-people-to-go-out-and-vote-340269" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's how American leaders are urging people to go out and vote</a> 
 
"Our Election Operations Center will continue monitoring a range of issues in real time -- including reports of voter suppression content," said a Facebook statement posted on Twitter. 
 
"If we see attempts to suppress participation, intimidate voters, or organize to do so, the content will be removed." 
 
Facebook said its election center was also tracking other issues such as the actions by supporters of President Donald Trump to surround campaign buses for Democrat Joe Biden. 
 
"We are monitoring closely and will remove content calling for coordinated harm or interference with anyone's ability to vote," Facebook said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-trump-train-caravans-may-become-a-security-concern-on-election-day-340265" hreflang="en">US election 2020: 'Trump Train' caravans may become a security concern on election day</a> 
 
Facebook reiterated that it would place warning labels on any posts which seek to claim victory prematurely. 
 
"If a presidential candidate or party declares premature victory, we will add more specific information in the labels on candidate posts, add more specific information in the top-of-feed notifications and continue showing the latest results in our Voting Information Center," the social giant said.

Loopholes, glitches 
Along with other social platforms, the company has promised to stem misinformation around the election, including premature claims of victory, seeking to avoid a repeat of 2016 manipulation efforts. 
 
Over the past days, Facebook and Twitter added disclaimers to Trump posts calling into question the integrity of mail-in ballots. 
 
Trump's post on Twitter said a slow vote count in battleground state Pennsylvania could lead to "rampant and unchecked cheating." 
 
"It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!" he tweeted. 
 
Twitter last month updated its "civic integrity policy" aiming to prevent efforts to manipulate or interfere in elections. That calls for actions against false claims for victory or any incitement to violence.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-fbi-investigating-calls-urging-tens-of-thousands-of-people-to-stay-at-home-on-election-day-340243" hreflang="en">US election 2020: FBI investigating calls urging 'tens of thousands of people' to stay at home on election day</a> 
 
YouTube has also sought to limit the sharing of videos with election misinformation. Last month it began adding information panels to videos about voting by mail. 
 
Mail-in voting was added to a short list of topics that YouTube considers prone to posts containing falsehoods, such as Covid-19 and landing on the Moon, according to the Google-owned video sharing platform. 
 
The panel appears under such videos regardless of who is speaking or who uploads them, according to YouTube. 
 
Some activists noted that efforts by social platforms to curb the spread of false information was being hurt loopholes and glitches.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-heres-what-voting-looks-like-in-uncertain-times-340260" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times</a> 
 
The activist group Avaaz said it has found multiple examples of unverified election claims on Facebook in recent days. 
 
Some comments say the "left" is planning a "coup" if Trump wins, while others argued without any factual basis that Trump would need to win Pennsylvania by four to five points "to overcome voter fraud," according to Avaaz. 
 
Facebook acknowledged this week that some political ads banned for containing misleading information were resurfacing, with political groups copying the same content for new messages to slip through filters.

Social media firms were on high alert Tuesday against Election Day misinformation and manipulation efforts as voters began in-person balloting across the United States following a tumultuous campaign.

Social media firms were on high alert Tuesday against Election Day misinformation and manipulation efforts as voters began in-person balloting across the United States following a tumultuous campaign. Aiming to avoid the problems that occurred in the 2016 campaign, Facebook, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube were implementing policies aimed at heading off the spread of false information designed to influence or intimidate voters at the last minute. Facebook said it had activated its election hub which was monitoring the platform in real time. Also read: US election 2020: Here's how American leaders are urging people to go out and vote "Our Election Operations Center will continue monitoring a range of issues in real time -- including reports of voter suppression content," said a Facebook statement posted on Twitter. "If we see attempts to suppress participation, intimidate voters, or organize to do so, the content will be removed." Facebook said its election center was also tracking other issues such as the actions by supporters of President Donald Trump to surround campaign buses for Democrat Joe Biden. "We are monitoring closely and will remove content calling for coordinated harm or interference with anyone's ability to vote," Facebook said. Also read: US election 2020: 'Trump Train' caravans may become a security concern on election day Facebook reiterated that it would place warning labels on any posts which seek to claim victory prematurely. "If a presidential candidate or party declares premature victory, we will add more specific information in the labels on candidate posts, add more specific information in the top-of-feed notifications and continue showing the latest results in our Voting Information Center," the social giant said. Loopholes, glitches Along with other social platforms, the company has promised to stem misinformation around the election, including premature claims of victory, seeking to avoid a repeat of 2016 manipulation efforts. Over the past days, Facebook and Twitter added disclaimers to Trump posts calling into question the integrity of mail-in ballots. Trump's post on Twitter said a slow vote count in battleground state Pennsylvania could lead to "rampant and unchecked cheating." "It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!" he tweeted. Twitter last month updated its "civic integrity policy" aiming to prevent efforts to manipulate or interfere in elections. That calls for actions against false claims for victory or any incitement to violence. Also read: US election 2020: FBI investigating calls urging 'tens of thousands of people' to stay at home on election day YouTube has also sought to limit the sharing of videos with election misinformation. Last month it began adding information panels to videos about voting by mail. Mail-in voting was added to a short list of topics that YouTube considers prone to posts containing falsehoods, such as Covid-19 and landing on the Moon, according to the Google-owned video sharing platform. The panel appears under such videos regardless of who is speaking or who uploads them, according to YouTube. Some activists noted that efforts by social platforms to curb the spread of false information was being hurt loopholes and glitches. In Pics: US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times The activist group Avaaz said it has found multiple examples of unverified election claims on Facebook in recent days. Some comments say the "left" is planning a "coup" if Trump wins, while others argued without any factual basis that Trump would need to win Pennsylvania by four to five points "to overcome voter fraud," according to Avaaz. Facebook acknowledged this week that some political ads banned for containing misleading information were resurfacing, with political groups copying the same content for new messages to slip through filters.

US election 2020: Social media firms like Facebook, Twitter on alert for Election Day misinformation

The United States is currently voting for its next president. The incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-country-entitled-to-know-who-won-on-november-3-says-trump-340238" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Country entitled to know who won on November 3, says Trump</a>

Former US President Barack Obama shared a message as parts of country begin to wind up the polling process. He has ferociously backed Joe Biden, who was the US Vice President during his presidency.&nbsp;

“This Election Day, everything is on the line. Our jobs. Our health care. Whether or not we get this pandemic under control. But here’s the good news: today, you can choose change”, the former president tweeted out.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This Election Day, everything is on the line. Our jobs. Our health care. Whether or not we get this pandemic under control. But here’s the good news: today, you can choose change. You can elect <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a>. Let’s win this thing. <a href="https://t.co/rvW2uOknpl">pic.twitter.com/rvW2uOknpl</a>
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1323726205993033728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He started off the clip with "This is it, folks. Right here, right now".

"The actions you take today will determine what kind of country we decide to be", he added.&nbsp;

While urging Americans to go out and vote, clips of Obama campaigning for Biden were shown, wherein he said: "Imagine January 20th, when we swear in president and a vice president who have a plan to get us out of this mess".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-over-100-million-votes-cast-california-leads-in-polling-340203" hreflang="en">US Elections 2020: Over 100 million votes cast; California leads in polling</a>

He's not the only one. American leaders belonging to both the Republican and Democratic parties are urging people to vote in what many have dubbed the election of a lifetime.

As voters line up to vote during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-over-100-million-votes-cast-california-leads-in-polling-340203">US elections</a>, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden's vice president pick Kamala Harris said "it is going to be a tight race, let's elect Joe Biden".

"Lets talk about the opportunity we have. We are in the middle of the pandemic. We have in our hands an option to elect Joe Biden who understands the dignity of life and love," the Democratic vice-presidential hopeful declared.

In Pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-election-2020-heres-what-voting-looks-like-in-uncertain-times-340260" hreflang="en">US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times</a>

Meanwhile, Jill Biden campaigning for her husband Joe Biden said that "Florida is a very important state. We're hoping to win it."

Pitching for her husband, Jill Biden told voters that "character's on the ballot and Joe and Donald Trump could not be more opposite."

The United States is currently voting for its next president. The incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections.

The United States is currently voting for its next president. The incumbent President Donald Trump is fighting against Democratic hopeful Joe Biden in the 2020 US elections. Also read: US Elections 2020: Country entitled to know who won on November 3, says Trump Former US President Barack Obama shared a message as parts of country begin to wind up the polling process. He has ferociously backed Joe Biden, who was the US Vice President during his presidency. “This Election Day, everything is on the line. Our jobs. Our health care. Whether or not we get this pandemic under control. But here’s the good news: today, you can choose change”, the former president tweeted out. This Election Day, everything is on the line. Our jobs. Our health care. Whether or not we get this pandemic under control. But here’s the good news: today, you can choose change. You can elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Let’s win this thing. pic.twitter.com/rvW2uOknpl — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 3, 2020 × He started off the clip with "This is it, folks. Right here, right now". "The actions you take today will determine what kind of country we decide to be", he added. While urging Americans to go out and vote, clips of Obama campaigning for Biden were shown, wherein he said: "Imagine January 20th, when we swear in president and a vice president who have a plan to get us out of this mess". Also read: US Elections 2020: Over 100 million votes cast; California leads in polling He's not the only one. American leaders belonging to both the Republican and Democratic parties are urging people to vote in what many have dubbed the election of a lifetime. As voters line up to vote during US elections, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden's vice president pick Kamala Harris said "it is going to be a tight race, let's elect Joe Biden". "Lets talk about the opportunity we have. We are in the middle of the pandemic. We have in our hands an option to elect Joe Biden who understands the dignity of life and love," the Democratic vice-presidential hopeful declared. In Pics: US election 2020: Here's what voting looks like in uncertain times Meanwhile, Jill Biden campaigning for her husband Joe Biden said that "Florida is a very important state. We're hoping to win it." Pitching for her husband, Jill Biden told voters that "character's on the ballot and Joe and Donald Trump could not be more opposite."

'Everything is on the line', proclaims Obama while urging Americans to vote

During a press conference from the White House, US President Donald Trump accused the Joe Biden campaign of election fraud. Former Ambassador to the United States Arun Singh tells more on insides of the Trump's announcements & US Election's impact on the India.

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During a press conference from the White House, US President Donald Trump accused the Joe Biden campaign of election fraud, and said he would move the US Supreme Court.

US Election 2020 Results Live: Trump: Biden campaign committed a fraud on the American people

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