The US election 2020 appears to be inching closer to the outcome, amid a range of protest between pro-Trump and anti-Trump with nearly 60 people arrested in Manhattan. Former vice-president, and Democratic party candidate Joe Biden has collected 264 electoral votes, making his track for winning enough states to gain the presidency.
President Donald Trump, who is trailing in the results, threatens to undermine the victory by challenging its legality in court. Mr Trump’s legal challenge comes after it becomes apparent that it would be challenging for the Republican to withstand a late blue wave that could help Mr Biden join several swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit demand better access for campaign observers to locations where ballots are being processed and counted, and raise absentee ballot concerns. The rush to court action did not seem intended to impact the outcome of the election.
As the blue tide, started sweeping the ballots dozens of angry pro-Trump gathered on vote-counting centres in Detroit and Phoenix as returns went against the president in the two key states. At the same time, thousands of anti-Trump protesters demanded a complete count of the ballots in the still-undecided election took to the streets in cities across the US.
The protests came as the president repeatedly asserted without evidence that there were significant problems with the voting and the ballot counting, followed by Republicans filed, preparing to challenge election results.
Is ball in the court of Biden?
The Democrats already has won the strongly contested states of Michigan and Wisconsin, part of the blue surge that shifted away from Democrats four years ago. Two days after voting, neither candidate has gathered the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. As per the latest projections by The Associated Press, Biden’s win in the Great Lakes states have him at 264, to Mr Trump’s 214. He is one more battleground away from becoming president-elect.
What lead to slow stride of Trump?
Young electors in the US have been making their voices heard recently. Although the votes are being counted, their choice could shape the outcome of the neck to neck race of the 2020 presidential election and decide the presidency of the world’s oldest democracy. The young voters of the US have been mobilizing to make their voices heard as an extension of rising youth activism in response to concerns over issues such as racial inequality, climate change and gun violence.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, electors aged between 18 and 29 are voting in record numbers, including more than eight million young people who voted early or absentee in the 2020 elections.
The pandemic, followed by recession, unemployment and the racial injustice which was voiced out after George Floyd’s killing are driving the young voters. The recession currently hit the US market severely, and has wiped away over a year of economic output and more than five years of jobs growth. As per reports, the workforce is now smaller than it was a year before Mr Trump first took office.
One bright scene – consumer spending – is more robust than it was right after the pandemic erupted in March, but still only back to where it was last June. The surging coronavirus and the fear of another lockdown is all playing the card against Mr Trump.
Swing States and when will result come?
As the race to the White House between Republicans and Democratic heats up, take a look at the battlegrounds and when will results be announced there.
Georgia
According to the officials, the counting will continue until all ballots are counted; However, results won’t let out until Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger returns. As per the latest report, the traditionally been considered a Republican stronghold state is giving Mr Trump a narrow lead of around 23,000 votes.
Nevada
Mr Biden is holding on to steady, though narrow, lead over President Trump in one of the most contested states in the presidential race.
According to Election officials, an estimated 200k ballots are outstanding. Newest batch of results expected at Thursday 15:00 EST (1.30 AM Friday IST)
Arizona
Democrats long-standing question will Arizona turn blue? Seems to be in favour, as Mr Biden currently has a narrow lead. Joe Biden won Arizona’s 11 electoral votes for president, and Mark Kelly won a seat in the U.S. Senate, ushering in an era of Democratic leadership not seen since Republicans dominated the 1952 election in the state. The final result is expected to come by the end of the week.
Pennsylvania
The state as a whole has about 7.5 lakh mail-in ballots to be counted, according to the Secretary of State’s website, though this figure has not been updated recently, according to CNN.
Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, has finished counting mail-in and absentee ballots. Philadelphia has said it needs several days for counting. Currently, Mr Trump has a narrow lead, as more results are yet to come.
North Carolina
Mr Trump is maintaining a lead although the complete result is not yet out. According to Election Officials, no official announcements will be made until November 12 or 13. All mail-in ballots will be received and counted by then.
The neck to neck tussle is presently in favour of Mr Biden, but will have a clear picture by the end of the week.
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