WEST PALM BEACH: As Americans cast their votes in one of the most tightly contested presidential elections in recent history, Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump said he would concede defeat after Tuesday’s vote only if he deemed the election “fair.”
The 78-year-old, after casting his Election Day ballot in Florida, expressed confidence about reclaiming the White House against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, stating, “If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it.”
Talking to reporters at a voting facility in West Palm Beach, Trump said, “I feel very confident.” He reiterated his earlier criticism of electronic voting machines, saying they were less secure than paper ballots and would delay the outcome being known.
“They spend all this money on machines… If they would use paper ballots, voter ID, proof of citizenship, and one-day voting, it would all be over by 10 o’clock in the evening. It’s crazy,” Trump said.
Asked about fears of unrest after the presidential election and whether he would call on supporters to avoid violence, Trump criticized the question. “I don’t have to tell them that, that there’ll be no violence. Of course, there’ll be no violence. My supporters are not violent people,” Trump said.
His comments came as voters turned out across the country, with long lines forming early in crucial battleground states. The 2024 election pits Trump, a polarizing figure on the global stage, against Kamala Harris, 60, who would make history as the first female president of the United States.
Trump’s rival, Harris, in an interview with Atlanta’s WVEE-FM, urged Americans to “get out and vote,” particularly those in battleground states where outcomes could determine the election. “We’ve got to get it done,” she said as she rallied last-minute support.
The stakes are high in this election, not only for the presidency but also for the makeup of Congress, with control over all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 34 Senate seats. Opinion polls leading up to Election Day have shown the race in a deadlock, with analysts unable to predict a clear winner.
With over 82 million early ballots already cast in early preceding weeks, Americans face a stark decision: elect Harris as the first female president in US history or witness Trump’s dramatic return to the White House.
Whoever wins the election – Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris – will inherit the legacy of a Biden administration. Nearly two-thirds of voters feel the country has been heading in the wrong direction under President Joe Biden, despite signs of economic recovery. While job growth and rising wages have bolstered the economy, many Americans argue these gains are negated by soaring costs for essentials like groceries and housing.
Biden’s promises on immigration reform, abortion rights, and foreign policy have been shaping the election.
Both the candidates had spent their final day of the election campaign frenetically working to get their supporters out to the polls and courting any last undecided voters in the swing states expected to decide the outcome.
Polling stations opened across the nation amid an air of tension and uncertainty. In key battleground states, voters lined up before dawn to cast ballots, joining the 83 million Americans who already voted early, AFP reported. Long lines were reported in areas like Black Mountain, North Carolina, where a makeshift tent served as a polling station after severe flooding, and Erie, Pennsylvania, a critical swing area.
“We’re so divided right now, and she’s about peace,” said Marchelle Beason, 46, told AFP after voting for Harris. Across the aisle, Trump supporter Darlene Taylor, 56, voiced her concerns about inflation and immigration, saying, “We don’t need another four years of high prices and broken promises.”
The race’s closeness has defied expectations, even with unprecedented events shaping the campaign. Harris entered the contest in July after President Joe Biden dropped out, while Trump, despite a criminal conviction and surviving two assassination attempts, has maintained strong support.
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Control of Congress is also at stake, with all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and 34 of the Senate’s 100 seats up for grabs. The outcome of the presidential election may not be immediately clear, with close results potentially delaying final counts for days.
Security has been placed on high, with barriers set up around the White House, and concerns of possible unrest if Trump loses and disputes the result, AFP reported.
Internationally, the world is closely watching the election. Trump’s return could shift US foreign policy toward an “America First” stance, raising fears of instability among allies in Europe and NATO. His positions on immigration, climate change—which he calls a “hoax”—and Middle East conflict stand in contrast to Harris, who has emphasized collaboration and domestic unity.
Harris spent her final campaign day rallying in must-win Pennsylvania, calling for voters to “make history.” She has focused on her opposition to Trump-backed abortion restrictions, aiming to mobilize women voters.
Trump, in his closing rally in Michigan, described his vision for the country in stark terms, casting himself as the only one capable of reversing what he described as America’s decline.
Harris concluded her weeks-long run of appearances by reflecting on a drive she says “brought together people from all corners of the US, and all walks of life”.
The vice president went on: “Ours is not a fight against nothing, but for something… Tonight we end as we initiated: with optimism, energy, joy.”
She also made a familiar appeal to young voters, saying. “To you in particular I say I see your power and I am so proud of you.”
