Read in 5th graf: read 270 votes x x and Electoral College votes (not seats) POL-US-VOTING Ballot stations open in US to elect new president WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (KUNA) -- Most ballot stations throughout the United States have opened for the Americans to vote for the nation's 47th president amid neck-and-neck competition between the two president hopefuls, the incumbent vice president Kamala Harris and the former president Donald Trump.
Reason that not all the centers have opened is the difference between the Eastern Time observed by Washington and other areas, the central timing zone, the Pacific timing, the Atlantic and Alaska timing.
Centers, in general, started opening at 5:30 a.m. local time and they are scheduled to be shut by 8 a.m.
According to figures released by Florida University, number of early voters reached 82 million as a number of ballot stations had opened weeks ahead of the official kickoff on November 5 (today).
Trump of the Republican Party and Harris of the Democrats' camp are vying to win at least 270 votes in the Electoral College, amounting totally to 538. One that wins 270 of the Electoral College votes will be declared the winner.
The competition is particularly heated in swinging states namely Pennsylvania and Michigan, the Arabs' stronghold. Other states such as Texas is predominantly Republican, while others like New York, are dominated by the Democrats.
Campaigning issues have covered local affairs such as inflation and immigration, in addition to external questions namely the war on Gaza. And opinion polls have shown a very tight race between the two runners.
Number of the Muslims in the US is estimated at three million. The Muslims and Arabs are expected to vote for the runner deemed more sympathetic toward the Gazans and Lebanese in their wars with Israel. (end) rsr.rk