Latest US Election: Harris and Trump tied in first official election results – voting begins for millions of Americans

You’ve heard the term “swing states” a lot during election season, but let’s break down exactly what they are and where they are so you have the full picture.

Essentially, these are states that have a disproportionate influence in presidential elections because they switch between voting Republican and Democratic.

Millions of dollars have been spent on campaigning in these areas, emphasizing that gaining more college votes is critical.

This year’s critical states are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Here’s what the voting results look like in these states now…

We’ll look at each of these in more detail below – or you can watch our video explanation…

Arizona – 11 electoral votes

It was the state that gave Joe Biden the presidency in 2020 after he carried the Democrats for the first time since the 1990s.

It is also at the center of national debates about immigration due to its long border with Mexico.

Immigration is considered one of the most important issues for voters.

Donald Trump said that if elected he would carry out the “largest deportation operation” in history.

Kamala Harris said she would renew efforts to pass comprehensive border legislation that would tighten migration and vowed to “enforce our laws” against border crossings.

Georgia – 16 electoral votes

Democrats carried Georgia in 2020, and the state’s large African American population played a key role in their victory.

Fulton County in Georgia is also the site of alleged election interference that led to one of Trump’s four criminal charges.

Gun laws could become a big issue here after a school shooting earlier this year in which a 14-year-old boy killed four people and wounded nine others with an assault rifle.

After the shooting, Ms Harris said: “We must end this epidemic of gun violence.”

Throughout her career, she has been a vocal advocate for restoring the assault weapons ban.

Trump has vowed to stand firm on gun rights if he is re-elected.

North Carolina – 16 electoral votes

Like Georgia, North Carolina was once a reliably red state.

Over the past 50 years, Democrats have won here only twice – in 1976 against Jimmy Carter and in 2008 against Barack Obama.

Despite this, it is classified as a swing state because Republicans achieved only narrow victories in recent elections.

The data also shows that from 2011 to 2021, many newcomers to North Carolina were from the heavily Democratic states of California, New York and New England. Blacks, Hispanics and people of color also make up 90% of North Carolinians’ new residents, groups that traditionally tend to lean left.

But the state’s population is largely white, and polls show some are concerned about immigration, which could contribute to Trump’s campaign’s anti-immigration sentiment.

Michigan – 15 electoral votes

In the last two elections, Michigan was the state that chose the winning presidential candidate.

The key issue here is current President Joe Biden’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and the broader Middle East crisis.

Activists in the state are calling on the government to stop military aid to the country.

Trump emphasized his support for Israel, saying during a presidential debate in June that the US should allow it to “finish the job” in the Gaza Strip.

Ms Harris also reaffirmed her “unwavering commitment to Israel” in a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the Democratic National Convention, she also called attention to the “devastating” civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

Nevada – 6 electoral votes

Both candidates have struggled to win over Latino voters.

This is where Las Vegas is located, one of the regions of the US that has been hit hard financially by COVID.

The economy, taxes and cost of living are likely to be key issues for voters.

Trump’s campaign website says his vision for America’s economy is “lower taxes, higher wages and more jobs for American workers.”

In her economic policy, Ms. Harris promised tax breaks for small businesses, as well as higher corporate tax rates and higher taxes on those earning $1 million or more.

Pennsylvania – 19 electoral votes

Pennsylvania made headlines in July after Trump survived an assassination attempt while holding a rally there.

As in Nevada, the economy is a major issue in the Keystone State, with food prices rising faster than anywhere else in the United States.

It is also the most important of the swing states, given that it produces the most Electoral College votes.

Wisconsin – 10 electoral votes

Before independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the race, polls showed he could pose a challenge to Trump and Harris in Wisconsin.

Some have speculated that this could be a state where third-party candidates are a big deal, and Democrats are fighting – unsuccessfully – to keep the Green Party’s Jill Stein off the ballot.

They argued that Ms. Stein failed to comply with state election laws and also filed a complaint against independent candidate Cornel West.

The state has chosen the winner of the last two elections, something Trump called “really important.”

“If we win Wisconsin, we win everything,” he previously said.

Ms Harris held a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, celebrating on stage her official nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate.

The economy and abortion rights are key issues for voters.