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The first voting centers in the USA They opened on Tuesday at 05:00 local time. to begin a historic day when the country will choose between the vice president and the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump.

The first one who can go to the polls They were neighbors of Vermont (northeast).where polling stations open from 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) to 10:00 (15:00 GMT).

Polling stations in six other states will open their doors at 6:00 local time (1100 GMT). (Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia) half an hour later it was followed by Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina, the latter considered a key state in determining who takes the White House.

Voting center hours vary widely as the 50 US states and the District of Columbia span six different time zonesand each state has its own election law with specific opening and closing times.

In the morning, at 12.00 GMT, Voting will begin in most DC locations. and in 17 states with different time zones: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wyoming, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan, the last three , “hinge” states.

An hour later, at 13:00 GMT, Centers will open in ten additional states with different time zones: Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

Centers in Arkansas will open in half an hour, and at 14:00 GMT. they will do it in six other states (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah).

California and Idaho will be the last to open at 15:00 GMT. followed by Washington and Alaska at 16:00 GMT and finally Hawaii at 17:00 GMT.

Very intense competition

Polls show a particularly tight race between Harris and Trump. At the national level, Harris maintains a slight lead of just over one percentage point with 48% support compared to Trump’s 46.8% support.according to an average of surveys on the website FiveThirtyEight.

However, Americans They do not decide by popular vote who their next president will be. rather, they appoint several electors in each state who make up the Electoral College and are responsible for choosing the next occupant of the White House.

The Electoral College has 538 delegates and requires Trump or Harris need at least 270 votes.

Most states It is already known who they will choose: Harris or Trump. so elections will be decided in just seven key states, where polls also show a very tight race: Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada.

244 million people called to vote

About 244 million Americans are expected to vote in this election. Of these, 80 million have already exercised their right to vote in advance, both at polling places and by mail, according to the University of Florida, there are links to this effect.

In addition to the president, Americans will choose today 435 members of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

They will also vote for several governors and numerous mayors, in addition to state legislatures and will decide on citizen initiatives, including proposals to protect abortion or tighten restrictions on this right in ten states.

(EFE)