US Elections 2020: What Happens On Tuesday And What’s Next

US Elections 2020: What Happens On Tuesday And What's Next

This year's elections in America come after a series of civil unrest sparked by protests against racial discrimination — amid a pandemic that has claimed more than 225,000 American lives and made presidential campaigns not only difficult, but deadly.

When will we know the result?

If there is a significant majority of votes in favor of one of the candidates, on Tuesday evening it will be possible to find out who will be the next US president. If the votes are divided approximately equally, the final result will become known only after all ballots have been counted.

The counting of mailed ballots and possible lawsuits in key wavering states can drag on for days or even weeks, triggering a constitutional crisis.

When will the first important result be known?

The first major indicator will be Florida, where polling stations close at 8:00 pm ET. If Biden wins a landslide victory here, Democrats can hope to win across the country.

For Trump, Pennsylvania may be the key to victory. If Biden wins in Pennsylvania, he is likely to win the presidency as well.

US Elections 2020: What Happens On Tuesday And What's Next Why doesn't a popular vote determine the winner?

In the elections themselves, the states do not technically elect a presidential candidate. They elect representatives to the Electoral College, who will then vote for the new president. Therefore, presidential elections are usually viewed as a battle for individual states. So, if Biden wins in Vermont, he will receive three electoral votes, and if Trump wins in Alaska, he will also receive three electoral votes.

Whoever gets 270 or more votes first wins the election.

What could be the main event of the night?

For Republicans, retaining states like Wisconsin and Michigan would be a major accomplishment. For Democrats, victory would come from the south, where North Carolina, Georgia, and even Texas can turn blue.

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