Everything you need to know about the 2024 US election: Trump vs Harris
Written by William Jackson Pollock on 5th November 2024
The 2024 US election draws to a close on November 6, but many of us here in the UK may be missing some key information, such as precisely how the votes are counted.
In a survey conducted by YouGov, 54% of people in the North would prefer for Kamala Harris to come out on top, with 20% endorsing Trump and the rest unsure.
Voters in the US don’t simply select their candidate of choice on their ballot. They instead vote for “electors” who are members of the electoral college, whereby each state has a set amount of whom will then cast their vote for who should take on the role of President in what is called an “electoral vote”.
If a candidate wins in a state with 40 electors, even if they only won by 0.1%, they receive all 40 of that state’s electoral votes. This is how Donald Trump was able to become President in 2016 despite the fact his rival Hillary Clinton received more votes from US citizens.
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What are known as “swing states” are very important for this reason. The term refers to states that do not have a political leaning that is set in stone, such as the Republican Wyoming or the Democrat-backing Massachusetts. These critical states are often the deciding factor in US elections due to the voting system, and campaigns in these states receive enormous monetary backing.
The two key players in the 2024 election are Donald Trump of the Republican Party and Kamala Harris of the Democrat Party, with others like the independent Cornel West, Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party also vying for the chance to become President.
Image credit: Alamy
Left-leaning Kamala Harris’s key focus is “fighting for a new way forward that protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but get ahead”.
Her opponent, former business titan Donald Trump aims to “carry out the largest deportation operation in American history” and to “make America affordable again”. Trump’s controversial right-wing approach has been very divisive as he strives for his second term in office.
Voters will also be choosing their Vice President, with this vote being tied to their presidential choice. Meaning a vote for Trump as president is a vote for his running mate JD Vance, and a vote for Harris supports Tim Walz.
Live updates on the results of the 2024 US election will be posted on this page when they become available.
