What are the seven crucial battleground states that could decide US election?
The contest to be president of the US takes place across 50 states (and the District of Columbia) but it is generally won or lost in a handful of key battlegrounds.
The road to the White House this year runs through seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
With so much riding on perhaps as few as hundreds of thousands of voters in states like these, let’s look at where they are.
We will break down each state by how many Electoral College votes it awards (a candidate needs a total of 270 to win the presidency) how it voted in 2020 (election day was on 3 November 2020) and what time polls close (all times in eastern time).
Arizona – 11 Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
Once considered a Republican stronghold, changing demographics have seen Arizona increasingly return Democrat politicians in recent years.
The shift in voting patterns culminated in Joe Biden winning the state in 2020 – only the second Democrat presidential candidate in seven decades to do so.
Polls close at 9pm (2am UK). In 2020, the Associated Press (AP) first reported results around 10pm (3am UK) and declared Mr Biden the winner at 2.51am (7.51am UK) the following day.
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Georgia – 16 Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
One of the biggest wins for Mr Biden in 2020, rapid growth in the Atlanta suburbs saw him become the first Democratic presidential nominee to win there in nearly three decades.
It was tight – he won by less than 13,000 votes – but the win was boosted by the Democrats taking both Senate seats in the state as well.
Polls close at 7pm (12am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results at 7.20pm (12.20am UK) but it would be more than two weeks before Biden was declared the winner.
Voters cast early ballots in Detroit, Michigan. Pic: Reuters
Michigan – 15 Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
A part of the key ‘Rust Belt’ group of states, Michigan is the home state of star Democrat governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The Great Lakes state was won by Mr Trump in 2016, the first Republican to do so for many years, but won by Mr Biden in 2020.
Polls close by 9pm (2am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results around 8pm (1am UK) and declared Biden the winner around 6pm (11pm UK) the following day.
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Nevada – six Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
Most of Nevada is rural, with the population predominantly concentrated in just two counties.
Polls close by 10pm (3am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results around 11.40pm (4.40am UK) and declared Biden the winner on 7 November.
North Carolina – 16 Electoral College votes – voted Republican in 2020
North Carolina narrowly voted for Mr Trump over Mr Biden in 2020, with less than 100,000 votes in the contest in the state, whose population is more than 10 million.
It was one of the upsets of the 2020 election, with Mr Biden previously favoured to win the Tar Heel state.
Polls close at 7.30pm (12.30am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results at 7.42pm (12.42am UK) and declared Mr Trump the winner on 13 November.
Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pic: Reuters
Pennsylvania – 19 Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
Mr Biden’s home state is a crucial battleground in the 2024 election, particularly given the substantial amount of Electoral College votes it assigns.
The populous state – part of the Rust Belt – is home to large cities including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Polls close at 8pm (1am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results at 8.09pm (1.09am UK) and declared Biden the winner on 7 November.
Wisconsin – 10 Electoral College votes – voted Democrat in 2020
A close election last time round, Mr Biden won Wisconsin by around 20,000 votes. And it could be tight again.
It’s also one of the best predictors of the nationwide winner – Wisconsin has backed the winning candidate every year since 2008.
Polls close at 9pm (2am UK). In 2020, AP first reported results at 9.07pm (2.07am UK) and declared Biden the winner at 2.16pm (7.16pm UK) the following day.
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