Election 2024: Harris and Trump in Tight Race as Americans Cast Their Votes

As Americans head to the polls on November 5, 2024, the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remains highly contested and tightly balanced. National polls indicate that the race is essentially neck-and-neck, with some polls showing a slight lead for Harris and others for Trump.

The latest average of national polls, compiled by FiveThirtyEight, shows Harris with a 1-point lead over Trump, although this gap has narrowed significantly over the last month.

In the swing states, the picture is equally mixed. Harris is leading in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and has a narrow lead in Pennsylvania, while Trump is ahead in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Nevada is also closely contested, with some polls showing Trump slightly ahead and others indicating Harris is leading.

A recent Marist/PBS/NPR poll released on November 4 found Harris with a 4-point lead nationally, with 51% of likely voters supporting her and 47% supporting Trump.

The New York Times/Siena College poll, released on November 3, showed Harris and Trump virtually tied nationally, with Harris at 48% and Trump at 47%.

The outcome in key states like Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral votes, is particularly crucial. Here, the candidates are almost evenly matched, with both Harris and Trump polling around 48.2%.

The tight race and the close margins in swing states make it challenging to predict the final outcome, especially given the historical underestimation of Trump’s support in previous elections.