Americans have started voting to decide who will be the country’s president and vice president in the next four years.
The major two-party candidates are Republican incumbent President Donald Trump and Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden.
Both Trump and Biden are the second oldest and oldest major party nominees in U.S. history.
Millions of eligible voters will also elect members of the country’s 117th Congressa as 35 Senate seats and 435 in the House of Representatives are up for grabs,
In addition, polls for 13 Governors and a host of other local offices are holding today.
It is worthwhile to note that the Tuesday after the first Monday in November is traditionally set for elections in the United States.
Local and international reports regarding the ongoing polls indicate that no fewer than 90 million people have already cast their ballots early with a view to avoiding long lines and stress occasioned by the compliance to Covid-19 guidelines on social distancing.
Americans are not technically voting for their candidates but for 538 electors who will determine who emerge as president via a unique mechanism known as the Electoral College.
Of the 538 total electoral votes 270 are needed to win the White House and six swings states – also called purple states or battleground states, hold 101 electoral votes.
The swing states for this year’s election include, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
The winner of the Presidential election will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
