2024 Presidential Election Update: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Hold Rallies as 42 Million Americans Vote Early

Last updated: Monday 28 October 2024 15:43 GMT.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump enter the final full week of the 2024 election campaign Kamala Harris and Donald Trump enter the final full week of the 2024 election campaign

As we approach the last full week of campaigning before Election Day, the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll shows Kamala Harris with a small margin of 51-47% Donald Trump among likely voters nationally, but polls in battleground states essentially remain deadlocked within the margin of error.

The fallout from racist comments made at Trump’s big rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden continues, with Harris preparing for her “closing argument” Tuesday night on the Ellipse near the Capitol and White House in Washington.

Key headings

Here’s how the news is developing.

Nearly 42 million voters cast their ballots

As of Sunday afternoon, nearly 42 million Americans had voted through early voting, according to the University of Florida Elections Lab.

About 41.9 million registered mail and early in-person votes were split evenly, with about 21 million mail ballots returned nationwide and about the same number cast at early in-person polling places nationwide, the data showed.

Early voting options are now open to voters in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Many early voting periods will extend into the weekend before Election Day.

Burned ballot boxes reported in Oregon and Washington

Police are investigating a ballot box arson in Portland, Oregon, where officers responded to a report of a fire overnight.

Security personnel extinguished a fire at a ballot box located near the Multnomah County Board of Elections, and Portland’s explosives unit recovered an incendiary device from the box.

ABC affiliate KATU reported another ballot box incident Monday in Washington state, where police were responding to smoke coming from a ballot box in Vancouver. The Clark County Auditor told KATU there were hundreds of ballots in the box at the time.

Philadelphia prosecutors sue Elon Musk over controversial $1 million giveaway to voters

Philadelphia District Attorney Sues Elon Musk and his super PAC on Monday over the billionaire’s controversial $1 million giveaway to registered voters.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s lawsuit alleges that Musk and his America’s Committee are “operating an illegal lottery in Philadelphia (as well as throughout Pennsylvania).”

Musk announced the eighth winner of his Super PAC’s $1 million prize in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Saturday and doubled down on his pledge to continue offering money to registered swing state voters who signed his petition. He said participants are not required to vote, but the online petition form states that you must be a registered voter to be eligible.

Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and Former President Obama Set to Support Harris in Philadelphia

Former President Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen and now John Legend will be in Philadelphia on Monday in support of Kamala Harris. as part of the “When We Vote, We Win” concert series.

Harris and Trump continue to stymie the Philadelphia region in the final days before the election.

While Harris herself is not expected to be at the rally, the vice president and Democratic presidential nominee was in Philadelphia on Sunday. She made stops throughout the city, saying that the path to the White House runs through Philadelphia.

Harris said “no one can stand by” in this year’s presidential election as she continues to focus on the battleground state.

Latin superstar Bad Bunny endorses Harris for president

Bad Bunny supported Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential candidate shortly after a comedian at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally made a crude joke about Latinos and called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” angering artists and some Latino Republicans.

Bad Bunny poses in the press room for the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Bad Bunny, whose official name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is one of the most famous artists of our time. His support could be a boost for Harris’ campaign as it tries to win over Latino voters among whom Trump is trying to gain ground.

In the video, which Bad Bunny shared with his 45 million Instagram followers, Harris says “there is so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.” The artist’s rep confirmed that Bad Bunny is supporting Harris.