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US election 2024: A really simple guide to the presidential vote A really simple guide to the presidential vote
(1 day later)
Americans are choosing their next president, in a contest being closely watched around the world. Republican Donald Trump is preparing to select his top team ahead of his return to the White House, after a decisive election victory.
The race is exceptionally close, and either Vice-President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump could win. His defeated opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, vowed to support a "peaceful transfer of power".
Voters are also selecting members of Congress - politicians who play a key part in passing laws that can have a profound effect on life in the US. When was the US presidential election?
When is the US presidential election? The 2024 election was on Tuesday, 5 November 2024.
The 2024 election is on Tuesday, 5 November 2024. Ahead of election day, some tens of millions of people took part in early voting events or sent their ballots by post. Tens of millions more voted on election day itself.
Ahead of election day, tens of millions of people took part in early voting events or sent their ballots by post.
The winner will serve a term of four years in the White House, starting in January 2025.The winner will serve a term of four years in the White House, starting in January 2025.
On the world stage, the US leader has considerable freedom to represent the country abroad.On the world stage, the US leader has considerable freedom to represent the country abroad.
Within the US, the president has the power to pass some laws on their own but he or she must mostly work with Congress to pass legislation. Within the US, the president works with the two branches of the US Congress to pass legislation, external.
Follow live updates on polling day They can also issue executive orders, which can direct the operations of the federal government, or clarify and extend existing laws.
How to follow election night on the BBC The president also has the power to issue pardons for federal crimes.
US election polls: Who is ahead? Follow live election day updates as Donald Trump wins
Who are the candidates for president? Analysis: Why the US gave Trump a second chance
Former president Donald Trump is representing the Republican Party. He won the party's support with a massive lead over his rivals. Who did each state vote for?
Trump win provokes trade-offs and dilemmas for UK
The view from countries where Trump's win really matters
Who were the candidates for president?
Former president Trump stood for the Republican Party. He won the party's support with a massive lead over his rivals.
Trump chose Ohio senator JD Vance to be his vice-presidential running mate.Trump chose Ohio senator JD Vance to be his vice-presidential running mate.
Kamala Harris, the current vice-president, is the candidate for the Democratic Party. She joined the race after President Joe Biden dropped out and no other Democrats stood against her. Kamala Harris, the current vice-president under the outgoing president, Joe Biden, was the candidate for the Democratic Party. She joined the race after Biden dropped out and no other Democrats stood against her.
Her running mate for vice-president is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Her running mate for vice-president was Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
There are also some independent candidates running for president. One of the most prominent was Robert F Kennedy Jr, but he suspended his campaign in August and backed Trump. There were also some independent candidates running for president. One of the most prominent was Robert F Kennedy Jr, but he suspended his campaign in August and backed Trump.
How Donald Trump came back from the political abyss Donald Trump: A remarkable life in pictures
What Harris's years as a prosecutor reveal about who she is now The Trump family: A guide to an American dynasty
Why Kamala Harris lost: A flawed candidate or doomed campaign?
When does Trump become president?
The period after the election is known as the transition, which gives the new administration time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans for the new term.
Trump becomes the president-elect, Vance the vice-president-elect.
At his victory rally, Trump hinted Kennedy - a former Democrat and vaccine sceptic - would be given a key healthcare role.
Technology billionaire Elon Musk is also expected to feature in the new administration. Trump previously said he would ask Mr Musk to tackle government waste.
Trump will be sworn in at a ceremony known as the inauguration, held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC on Monday 20 January 2025.
At that point, he legally assumes the power and responsibilities of the presidency.
Analysis: Result hands Trump free reign
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What could happen to Trump's legal cases now?
What do Democrats and Republicans stand for?What do Democrats and Republicans stand for?
The Democrats, who use blue as their colour, are the liberal political party. They are known for supporting civil rights, a social safety net and measures to address climate change.The Democrats, who use blue as their colour, are the liberal political party. They are known for supporting civil rights, a social safety net and measures to address climate change.
In the 2024 election, issues highlighted by their candidate Kamala Harris include tackling the cost-of-living crisis and supporting abortion rights. In the 2024 election, issues highlighted by their candidate Kamala Harris included tackling the cost-of-living crisis and supporting abortion rights.
The Republicans use the colour red and are the conservative political party. They have stood for lower taxes, shrinking the size of the government and gun rights.The Republicans use the colour red and are the conservative political party. They have stood for lower taxes, shrinking the size of the government and gun rights.
Issues that their candidate Donald Trump has campaigned on include tackling illegal immigration and ending inflation to "make America affordable again". Issues that their candidate Donald Trump campaigned on included tackling illegal immigration and ending inflation to "make America affordable again".
Where Kamala Harris stands on policy issues Where Kamala Harris stood on 10 key issues, from immigration to guns
Where Donald Trump stands on policy issues Where Donald Trump stood on 10 key issues, from tax to Israel
How does the US presidential election work?How does the US presidential election work?
The winner is not the person who gets the most votes overall. The winner is not the person who gets the most votes overall. Instead, both candidates compete to win contests held across the 50 individual states.
Instead, both candidates compete to win contests held across the 50 states.
Each state has a certain number of so-called electoral college votes, partly based on population. There are a total of 538 up for grabs and the winner is the candidate that gets 270 or more. A tie is possible, but unlikely.Each state has a certain number of so-called electoral college votes, partly based on population. There are a total of 538 up for grabs and the winner is the candidate that gets 270 or more. A tie is possible, but unlikely.
All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule, so whichever candidate has the highest number of votes is awarded all of its electoral college votes.All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule, so whichever candidate has the highest number of votes is awarded all of its electoral college votes.
Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other, so the focus is on about seven states where either of them could win. These are known as the battleground or swing states.Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other, so the focus is on about seven states where either of them could win. These are known as the battleground or swing states.
It is possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - like Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated. It is possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - as the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated.
How does US electoral college choose presidents? How does the US electoral college choose presidents?
Who can vote in the US presidential election?Who can vote in the US presidential election?
Most US citizens aged 18 or over are eligible to vote. Most US citizens aged 18 or over were eligible to vote. Each state has its own voter registration process and deadline, external.
Each state has its own voter registration process and deadline. US citizens who live abroad could register and request an absentee postal ballot, external.
Check your state's registration rules, external Who else was being elected?
US citizens who live abroad can register and request an absentee postal ballot, external. Most of the attention is on who wins the presidency, but voters were also choosing new members of Congress - where laws are passed.
What early voting can - and can't - tell us about the US election Congress consists of the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats were up for election, and the Senate, where 34 seats were being contested.
Who else is being elected?
Most of the attention will be on who wins the presidency, but voters will also be choosing new members of Congress - where laws are passed - when they fill in their ballots.
Congress consists of the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are up for election, and the Senate, where 34 seats are being contested.
Republicans currently control the House, which initiates spending plans. Democrats are in charge of the Senate, which votes on key appointments in government.
These two chambers pass laws and can act as a check on White House plans if the controlling party in either chamber disagrees with the president.These two chambers pass laws and can act as a check on White House plans if the controlling party in either chamber disagrees with the president.
When will we know who has won the election? Republicans have retaken control of the US Senate, which votes on key appointments in government.
Usually the winner is declared on the night of the election, but in 2020 it took a few days to count all the votes. They also lead the contest to control the House of Representatives, which initiates spending plans, but it could take days for the final result to be confirmed.
The period after the election is known as the transition, if there is a change of president.
This gives the new administration time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans for the new term.
The president is officially sworn into office in January in a ceremony known as the inauguration, held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC.
When is the presidential result expected?
ELECTORAL COLLEGE: How does the US system work?
EXPLAINER: What Harris or Trump would do in power
SARAH SMITH: Our North America editor on two starkly contrasting visions
GLOBAL: How this election could change the world
IN PICS: Different lives of Harris and Trump
IN FULL: All our election coverage in one place
North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his weekly US Election Unspun newsletter.
Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here, external.