10 months ago The future of democracy is driving voters By Josh Boak, Associated Press Voters said the economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesday’s presidential election. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change as Americans faced a stark choice between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. About 4 in 10 voters considered the economy and jobs to be the most important problem facing the country, as frustration with inflation spiking in 2022 lingered in the form of higher grocery, housing and gasoline costs. Roughly 2 in 10 voters said the top issue is immigration, and about 1 in 10 picked abortion. But when asked what most influenced their vote, about half of voters identified the future of democracy as the single most important factor. That was higher than the share who answered the same way about inflation, the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, abortion policy or free speech. Read more about voter interests.
10 months ago An a-peel-ing symbol By Joshua Barajas Kelli Cole of Shreveport, Louisiana, shared a photo of her “I Voted” sticker. It features a dapper crawfish named Mark de Ballot.Photo courtesy of Kelli Cole One of the perks of doing your civic duty when going to the polls is leaving with an “I Voted” sticker. From tornadoes, finches to werewolves, PBS News looked at this year’s new crop of stickers for the 2024 election.
10 months ago Trump supporters pack watch Mar-a-Lago party By News Desk Former President Donald Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago resort Tuesday to watch election results, while his supporters are maintaining an “anxious, nervous, but joyful” demeanor as polls on the East Coast close. PBS News Hour’s William Brangham reported that the former president will make a decision about whether to speak to the watch party depending on the timing of results. Democratic voters are concerned Trump will declare victory before results are finalized like he did in 2020, according to Brangham, potentially sowing doubt into election results. Watch Brangham’s report.
10 months ago Polls in North Carolina close at 7:30 By News Desk All eyes are on North Carolina, an important battleground state, as polls are set to close at 7:30 p.m. EST. Polls will also close in Ohio and West Virginia. Follow all of our live election results, plus find updates for battleground state North Carolina.
10 months ago Mar-a-Lago’s X-tra special guest By Josh Barajas Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and self-described “dark, gothic MAGA,” will be spending election night with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Musk has spent millions on a super PAC that has supported the former president in the final stretch of the presidential race. The Trump mega donor is also under investigation for his $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in certain battleground states, a move that raised legal and ethical concerns.
10 months ago Voters deciding on life, weed and taxes By David A. Lieb, Associated Press While electing officials to make and enforce laws, voters in dozens of states are also deciding on more than 140 ballot proposals affecting the way people legally live, work and die. As 10 states consider measures related to abortion or reproductive rights on Tuesday’s ballots, about a half-dozen states are weighing the legalization of marijuana for either recreational or medical use. About two dozen measures are focused on future elections, including several specifically barring noncitizens from voting. Other state measures affect wages, taxes, housing and education. Read a roundup of different issues on the ballot across the U.S.
10 months ago Harris to watch results at alma mater Howard University By News Desk Vice President Kamala Harris is attending an election night watch party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C. PBS News Hour’s Laura Barrón-López reported that the Harris campaign spent Election Day talking to radio stations in swing states and visited the Democratic National Committee headquarters to thank volunteers. As of 11 a.m., the Harris campaign had knocked on nearly 100,000 doors in Pennsylvania on Election Day, according to Barrón-López. Watch Barron-Lopez’s report.
10 months ago A handful of seats will determine control of Congress By Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Control of Congress is at stake Tuesday, with ever-tight races for the House and Senate that will determine which party holds the majority and the power to boost or block a president’s agenda, or if the White House confronts a divided Capitol Hill. The key contests are playing out alongside the first presidential election since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, but also in unexpected corners of the country after what has been one of the most chaotic congressional sessions in modern times. In the end, just a handful of seats, or as little as one, could tip the balance in either chamber. In the Senate, where Democrats now have a slim 51-49 majority, an early boost for Republicans is expected in West Virginia. Independent Sen. Joe Manchin’s retirement creates an opening that Republican Jim Justice, now the state’s governor, is favored to win. A pickup there would deadlock the chamber, 50-50, as Republicans try to wrest control. Read more about the top House races.
10 months ago The cost of this election By Hannah Grabenstein The 2024 presidential election was the second most expensive since at least 1998. In total, $5.5 billion dollars was spent on the race by presidential candidates, political parties and independent interest groups trying to influence federal elections, according to Open Secrets. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $2.2 billion less than the 2020 race, the most expensive on record. When congressional races are factored in, the cost of 2024 campaigns jumps to $15.9 billion. In 2024, Democrats spent about $6.7 billion, Republicans spent about $7.6 billion, and third-party candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., spent a little more than $500 million. Adjusted for inflation, that’s more than 2.5 times as much as any third-party candidate since 2000, when third-party candidates spent nearly $197 million.
10 months ago First polls will close at 7 p.m. EST By News Desk We’re minutes away from the first polls closing. Election polls will close at 7 p.m. EST in Georgia, a closely watched battleground state, along with Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia and Vermont. Follow all of our live election results, plus find updates for battleground state Georgia.