Election Polls and Results
The 2024 US presidential race has displayed an intense competition between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Despite close election polls, the final result doesn’t necessarily promise a similar scenario. Polling errors, even minor ones, can significantly impact the outcomes, potentially securing a decisive victory for either candidate. This fact is constantly emphasized by election analysts and brings attention to the potential of a skewed result intensifying distrust in the polling and electoral process. Even slight underestimation or overestimation in the polls for either candidate can result in a landslide victory, potentially toppling all battleground states.
2024 Election Day
The date for the presidential election in 2024 is marked as November 5th. Multiple factors may contribute to a delay in the election results such as legal challenges, narrow victories prompting recounts, and any disruptions at polling locations. The 2024 presidential election is highly likely to revolve around seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In a situation that the popular vote is almost equal, the concentration on Electoral College votes leads the race.
Targeting Swing States
Political strategies have seen Kamala Harris and Donald Trump precisely targeting swing states. These potentially game-changing regions have a major role in deciding who becomes the President of the United States. The current polling results show neck-to-neck competition between Harris and Trump. Nevertheless, an underestimation or overestimation in these critical areas might turn the tides of the election drastically.
Election Day Procedures
Election Day practices involve carefully coordinated efforts to ensure smooth voting. On November 5, an array of polling stations will open, their operating hours varying based on states and time zones. Generally, most of the polling sites will open between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET, providing a convenient window for voters. Similarly, the closing of polls also ranges, with the earliest closing at 6 p.m. ET and the last ones at 1 a.m. ET. Post polling, the counting of votes commences, starting with the ones cast on Election Day.
Virtual Election Coverage
The 2024 US Presidential Election brought forward an interesting medium of election coverage – Virtual Reality (VR). Platforms such as VRChat or Meta Horizon Worlds turned into gathering spots for people to discuss, argue, and analyze election results in real-time. In spite of its chaotic nature at times, the VR space revealed a digital reflection of real-world divisions and sentiments. Despite its novelty, it indicates how technology could transform political discourse in the future.
