Tens of millions of Americans went to the polls today to elect the next president. Some voters, particularly in the West, have a few more hours to cast their ballots. But soon, the dizzying and contentious race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will become an exercise in patience as votes are being counted.
No matter who wins, this election will make history. Harris, who began her campaign just over 100 days ago, would be the first woman ever elected to the country’s highest office. Trump would be the second-ever president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first to be elected after being convicted of a felony.
“Both parties took risks in this election,” my colleague Jess Bidgood, who writes the On Politics newsletter, told me. “My big question going into tonight is: Whose risk is going to pay off?” The latest polls suggested that either candidate could win.
Harris, like more than 80 million others, voted early. Trump cast his ballot today in Florida and said this would likely be his last campaign. He will watch the returns at Mar-a-Lago, where Elon Musk plans to join him.
A guide to election night
It will take multiple days to count all of the votes across the country. If the polls are right, it could be days before we know the next president. If they’re wrong, a victor could be declared before you wake up tomorrow. Either way, we should by tonight have a good idea of how close the race is.