The votes are in! Millions of Americans lined up to cast their ballots, while thousands of U.S. expats, including those in the UAE, made their voices heard through mail-in and online voting.
Now, the wait begins. On Election Night, November 5, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump scored early wins as the first key polls closed in one of the closest elections in U.S. history.
The outcome could be revealed overnight but may take days. This election could make Harris the first woman to hold the most powerful job in the world or mark a historic comeback for Trump and his “America First” agenda.
Election Results Snapshot
According to a running tally from Edison Research, here’s what we know:
10:55 am: Fox News calls Trump’s victory.
Fox News projected that Trump won the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, declaring him “elected president.”
No other media outlets have confirmed the victory yet.
10:50 am: Trump leads with 246; Harris has 194.
10:45 am: Trump projected to win in Pennsylvania.
Fox News stated that Trump has won Pennsylvania, severely limiting Harris’s chances of winning the presidency. Other networks have not called the state yet.
10:30 am: Voting from Space!
Did you know astronauts can vote even from space? Since 1997, U.S. astronauts have been able to cast their votes while orbiting Earth under a Texas law.
They submit their ballots just like any other Americans living abroad.
Their votes are sent back through the same channels used for data from the International Space Station to Earth.
10:20 am: Hope and Worry at Howard University
At Howard University, where many supporters gathered for Harris, people were leaving, anticipating that she wouldn’t address the crowd late Tuesday night.
“We’re not going to get much tonight since it’s so close, so we’re heading home,” said Korey Stroud, a local community college student. “We’re not going to stress here; we’ll do that at home.”
Joshuana Hayden, another student, mentioned she would return the next day.
“I came to see Kamala,” she said. “I’m worried but hopeful.”
10:10 am: Trump leads in another swing state.
In Nevada, another battleground state, about 70.1% of estimated votes have been counted:
- Trump: 50.9%
- Harris: 47.5%
This data is from the early vote count by Edison Research.
To recap, Trump has already won two swing states, Georgia and North Carolina, and is leading in Pennsylvania.
10:00 am: Republicans Gain Control of the Senate
The Republican Party has taken control of the U.S. Senate from the Democrats, with at least 51 seats in the 100-member chamber, as projected by U.S. networks early Wednesday.
9:55 am: Trump leads with 246; Harris has 187.
9:42 am: Trump wins a second swing state.
Another battleground, Georgia, has gone to Trump, delivering a significant blow to Harris, as the state voted Democratic in 2020.
9:40 am: UAE Follows the Elections
Although the UAE is thousands of miles from the U.S., many netizens are interested in the presidential election. As of 9:40 am, Trump was trending at No. 1 in the UAE, with over 4.6 million posts, while the Arabic hashtag for Trump was also popular, alongside #ElectionDay.
9:32 am: When Will We Know the Results?
The results you’re seeing are not yet official; they are projections based on various voting sources. U.S. news outlets report on races based on their data, and the official results must be certified at the state level.
States have until December 11 to certify their results. Each state’s electors will then cast their votes for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state.
By December 25, the electoral certificates from each state must be sent to the President of the Senate, who is also the Vice President — Kamala Harris.
On January 6, Congress will count and confirm the results before the new president is inaugurated on January 20.
9:21 am: Trump leads with 230; Harris has 182.
9:17 am: Pennsylvania Update
Trump is still leading in Pennsylvania, with 86% of estimated votes counted:
- Trump: 50.9%
- Harris: 48.1%
This count is based on early data from Edison Research.
Projections indicate Trump has won North Carolina and is leading in Georgia.
9:00 am: Who Counts the Votes and Why Do Numbers Vary?
The numbers currently available are unofficial tallies generated from various sources. The U.S. does not have a single election commission declaring winners; each state has its own rules.
News organizations have taken on the responsibility of providing real-time updates on election results since 1848. They have teams on the ground across the U.S., gathering data from multiple sources, including raw vote counts and exit polls.
Edison Research is also conducting exit polls for major media companies.
8:53 am: A Family Votes for the First Time
Former First Lady Melania Trump shared a photo of their youngest son, 18-year-old Barron, voting for his dad for the first time.
8:46 am: North Carolina Goes to Trump
The first of the key battlegrounds, North Carolina, has been called for Trump, signaling his growing momentum in the race.
Democratic Vice President Harris appears to be underperforming in other critical areas compared to Trump.
Harris’s campaign noted that the race is very close, and her best chance for victory lies in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
8:43 am: Trump leads with 230; Harris has 165.
8:34 am: Another Swing State Leans Trump
With 91.1% of votes counted in Georgia:
- Trump: 50.9%
- Harris: 48.2%
This count is based on early data from Edison Research.
8:29 am: Trump leads with 211; Harris has 165.
8:25 am: Congressional Updates
For the first time, two Black women will serve simultaneously in the Senate, following victories from Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Maryland and Delaware, respectively.
Of the over 2,000 Americans who have served in the Senate, only three have been Black women, including Harris.
As with the presidential race, the congressional elections appear very close. Even with Republicans gaining in the Senate, control of the House remains uncertain.
Jim Justice’s victory in West Virginia has erased the Democrats’ 51-49 Senate majority, leaving Republicans needing just one more seat to take back control. They are now targeting states like Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania for potential gains.
Meanwhile, Democrats hope to mitigate losses with wins in Texas and Florida, though they have conceded both states to the Republicans.
If Republicans win all toss-up races, they would hold 55 of the 100 Senate seats, giving them significant power to block Harris’s domestic policy if she wins the presidency.
8:21 am: Trump projected to win in Idaho and Iowa.
8:18 am: California Chooses Harris
Harris has won her home state of California, gaining its 54 electoral votes, the most of any state.
California has leaned Democratic in presidential elections since the 1990s. Joe Biden defeated Trump in the state by 30 percentage points in 2020.
Harris also secured victory in Oregon.
8:15 am: Closing Time for Polls
California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii closed their polling stations at 11pm U.S. time (8pm UAE time), with some closing even later.
8:08 am: Trump leads with 211; Harris has 153.
7:55 am: Pennsylvania Update
With 60.3% of estimated votes counted in Pennsylvania:
- Trump: 50.8%
- Harris: 48.2%
This is based on early data from Edison Research.
7:51 am: Trump leads with 207; Harris has 91.
7:41 am: Understanding Swing States
Most U.S. states consistently vote either Republican or Democratic, but seven states are considered battlegrounds because they often switch between parties.
The states being closely monitored are:
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Nevada
- North Carolina
7:30 am: U.S. Election Process Explained
The U.S. election system differs from others where the candidate with the most votes wins. The electoral college system requires a candidate to secure an absolute majority of “electors” — or 270 of 538 — to win.
Each state’s vote contributes to a statewide tally, with the winner receiving all the electoral votes in most states. Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system.
7:20 am: Polls Close in Seven Swing States
Voting has now closed in all seven battleground states critical to this election. Nevada was the last to close at 10pm U.S. time (7am UAE). Results for these states are still pending.
6:50 am: Election Night Gatherings
Americans are coming together for watch parties as they await results from the presidential race. In various cities, crowds gather to follow the developments closely.
6:33 am: Current Vote Counts
As results come in, media outlets project wins for Trump in states such as Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky, while Harris wins states like Delaware and New York. Trump has 168 electoral votes and Harris has 81. The magic number to win is 270, and the election is expected to hinge on key swing states.
6:20 am: Security Concerns and Polling Locations
As polling hours end, reports of bomb threats in Georgia polling stations remind everyone of the tensions surrounding the election. Authorities are investigating threats that appear to originate from Russia, indicating potential interference.
6:15 am: Initial Election Results
Initial election results show Trump winning strongholds like Indiana and Kentucky, while Harris captures more liberal states like Vermont. As early results come in, Trump expresses confidence in a “big victory tonight,” while Harris’s campaign reports strong turnout in Democratic areas.
