The key places election race will be decided

All eyes will be on the seven swing states that make up 93 crucial votes

The result of the election hinges on seven swing states and the 93 electoral college votes they represent.
Donald Trump is hoping that voters’ enthusiasm for his dynamic economic policy and tough on immigration stance is enough to get him over the line.
But sweeping abortion restrictions in many Republican-controlled states could see enough female voters switch sides and make Kamala Harris America’s first female president.
In 2020, the battleground states were won by a margin of three percentage points or less.
This time around, it is on track to be one of the closest elections in modern US history.
By 7pm EST (midnight GMT), voting will have finished in six states, including Georgia. By 8pm, 19 states will have joined them and exit polls will be published. At 9am, polls in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan will have closed. By midnight, we should have a far clearer picture.
Here are the key races where the election will be decided:
Formerly solidly-Republican, demographic changes turned the state of Arizona blue four years ago.
But while the Democrats hope that abortion will bring enough women to the polls to retain the state, concern about immigration across America’s southern border has emerged as the key issue for voters in Arizona, which could help Trump.
A fiercely competitive race between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake could decide who controls the US Senate.
Latest Polling: Trump 49 per cent Harris 45 per cent according to New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: Immigration and abortion.
Declaration times: One hour after polls close or, if earlier, when all precincts have reported.
In 2020 AP reported the results at 10.02 pm EST (3.02am GMT) on election day and declared Joe Biden the winner at 2.51am.
Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)
Georgia is a reliable barometer of how the nation will vote, since the very earliest days of the United States.
From the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 to Joe Biden’s triumph in 2020, the winner of Georgia has normally taken the presidency.
Trump was prosecuted over his attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat in the state. After asking Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State, to “find” 11,780 votes that would mean he beat Mr Biden.
Among the Democrats, there are fears that support for the party among African-American voters is weakening.
Latest Polling: Harris 48 per cent, Trump 47 per cent according to New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: The economy and border control.
Declaration times: Because the state’s election board requires votes to be hand-counted – as well as by machine – it is unclear when the result will be announced. Mr Raffensperger, expects to announce the winner by Thursday.
In 2020, AP first reported Georgia results at 7.20 pm ET (12.20am GMT) on election day and declared Mr Biden as the winner at 7.58 pm EST on Nov 19, more than two weeks later.
Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)
The manufacturing powerhouse helped secure Trump’s victory in 2016 and flipped back to blue in 2020 as Biden beat his Republican rival by just under three percentage points.
The state is split between its Democratic stronghold in Detroit and rural Republican heartlands.
Early vote data in 2020 showed the Democrats far ahead, but the results narrowed as more were counting. This election looks set to be similar.
Michigan could now slip from the Democrats’ grasp because of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
With the result on a knife edge, the Harris campaign fears that enough Arab-American, and Muslim voters could defect to the Greens’ candidate Jill Stein to tilt the state race in Trump’s favour.
They say Ms Harris’s continuation of Biden’s Gaza policy is too supportive of Israel.
Latest Polling: Harris 47 per cent Trump 47 per cent according to New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: Economy, abortion, immigration and the Middle East.
Declaration times: State officials expect it will take until Friday to announce the winner.
In 2020, AP first reported Michigan results at 8.08 pm EST (1.08am GMT) on election night and declared Mr Biden the winner at 5.58pm the following day.
Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)
Despite the Democrats winning the last three presidential elections in the state, Nevada is regarded as a political bellwether.
With Reno and Las Vegas dominating the state’s economy, low-paid hotel and restaurant workers could swing the election.
Both Trump and Ms Harris have pledged to stop taxing tips – which account for a substantial proportion of their income.
Along with abortion, immigration has emerged as a key issue in a state in which 19 per cent of people were born outside the US and 9 per cent of the workforce does not have legal status.
Latest polling: Harris 49 per cent Trump 46 per cent according to New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: Economy, immigration and abortion.
Declaration times: Because Nevada will accept postal votes sent by Nov 3, it could take 10 days for the result to be known.
In 2020, AP first reported Nevada results at 11.41 pm EST (4.41am GMT) on election night and declared Mr Biden the winner at 12.13pm EST four days later.
Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Clinton (Democrat) 2020 Biden (Democrat)
This “purple” state was the only battleground to go red in 2020, with Trump taking it by just 74,000 votes.
But the Democrats almost took it because of the state’s black voters turning against Trump.
The Democrats once again will be relying on a high turnout among African-American voters to try to turn the state blue.
The once safe Republican state has emerged as pivotal to the election, much to the alarm of the Trump campaign.
Over the past 50 years, North Carolina has only backed a Democratic presidential candidate twice – Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008.
The Democrats’ chances have been enhanced by the popularity of Roy Cooper, the governor, who was tipped as a running mate for Ms Harris before she chose Tim Walz.
The state legislature’s decision to impose a ban on abortions after 12 weeks is believed to be having a significant impact among women voters.
If only a small number of voters defect to Ms Harris on the issue, Trump will face an uphill battle holding onto the state he won by a whisker four years ago.
Latest Polling: Harris 48 per cent Trump 46 per cent according to New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: Crime, Social Security (pensions and other benefits) and abortion.
Declaration times: Up to 80 per cent of the vote could be announced soon after the polls close at 7.30 pm local time (12.30am GMT). But it could take another nine days for postal votes to be counted and the result declared.
In 2020, AP first reported results at 7.42 p.m ET (12.42am GMT) on election day Nov 3 and declared Trump the winner at 3.49 pm 10 days later.
Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Trump (Republican)
Conventional political wisdom in the US says that the road to the White House runs through Pennsylvania.
In a Rust Belt state that has suffered badly with manufacturing jobs being shipped offshore, Trump will hope his promise to revive the economy will prove a vote-winner.
Mr Biden took it by just one percentage point in 2020 and this time around it is up for grabs, hence why both candidates have lavished it with visits.
Some analysts believe Ms Harris made a costly mistake in not selecting Pennsylvania’s popular governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate.
Abortion is also a key issue which Trump has attempted to bat off by insisting reproductive healthcare laws should be left to individual states.
Latest Polling: Harris 48 per cent, Trump 48 per cent according to the New York Times/Siena.
Key Issues: Crime, Social Security (pensions and other benefits) and abortion.
Declaration times: With around half the electorate voting by mail, it will be a long wait for the result. At best the majority will be counted by Friday, but it could take even longer.
In 2020, the AP first reported results at 8.09pm ET (1.09am GMT) on election day and declared Mr Biden the winner at 11.25 am four days later.
Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)
Once a safe Republican state, Wisconsin tilted towards the Democrats in 2012 and the presidential races since have been tight.
Four years ago, Mr Biden won the state by 0.7 per cent.
Social security has emerged as a major issue in Wisconsin, with Democrats accusing the Republicans of wanting to cut benefits including Medicare, the subsidised health programme for older Americans.
Like many other states, abortion is high on the priority of voters.
But it is crime and gun crime which has caused considerable concern, with Milwaukee rated as one of the world’s most dangerous cities.
Latest Polling: Harris 49 per cent, Trump 47 per cent.
Key Issues: Social Security (pensions and other benefits), crime, guns and abortion.
Declaration times: Although postal votes will not be counted until election day, the outcome should be known on election night or by the following day.
In 2020, the AP first reported Wisconsin results at 9.07pm ET (2.07am GMT) on election day and declared Mr Biden the winner at 2.16pm the following day.
Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)