Everything you need to know about the Presidential election day thats approaching in the US

El día de las elecciones está casi a la vuelta de la esquina. En cuestión de horas se emitirán los votos finales de las elecciones presidenciales de 2024.

In a deeply divided nation, the election is a showdown between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

We know there are seven battleground states that will decide the outcome, barring a major upset. But major questions remain about the timing of results, the makeup of the electorate, the influx of misinformation and even the possibility of political violence. At the same time, both sides are braced for a protracted legal battle that could further complicate matters.

History will be made anyway

Given all the twists and turns of the past few months, it's easy to overlook the historic significance of this election.

Harris would become the first female president in America’s 248-year history. She would also be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Harris and her campaign have largely downplayed gender and race, for fear of alienating some of her supporters. But the significance of a Harris victory would not be lost on historians.

A Trump victory would represent a different kind of historic achievement. He would become the first person convicted of a felony to be elected to the U.S. presidency, having been convicted of 34 felonies in a hush-money case in New York just over five months ago.

So whoever wins, they will both end up making history.

Trump, who still faces felony charges in at least two separate criminal cases, has argued that he is the victim of a politicized justice system. And tens of millions of voters apparently believe him — or are willing to overlook his extraordinary legal baggage.

How long will it take to find out the winner?

Election Day in the United States is now often considered election week, as each state follows its own rules and practices for counting ballots (not to mention legal challenges) that can delay results. But the truth is, no one knows how long it will be until the winner is announced this time.

In 2020, The Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Sunday afternoon, four days after polls closed. But even then, the AP picked North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later, after hand recounts.

This time around, both campaigns believe the race is extremely close in the seven swing states expected to decide the election, barring one big surprise: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Where are the candidates?

Trump is likely to spend the early hours of Election Day in Michigan, where he plans to hold a final evening rally in Grand Rapids, as has become his tradition.

The Republican candidate plans to spend the rest of the day in Florida, where he is expected to vote in person, despite previously saying he would vote early. He is scheduled to hold a campaign watch party in Palm Beach on Wednesday.

Harris plans to attend an election night party at Howard University in Washington, a historically Black university where she graduated in economics and political science in 1986 and was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Other than Howard, he has not announced any public timetable for Election Day.

Who do you vote for?