By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The nation wakes up to Election Day with heavy hearts and nerves on edge as Americans decide the future in one of the most pivotal and high-stakes elections in modern history. Downtown Washington, D.C., and major cities brace under the weight of both the election’s outcome and the threat of violence, a chilling reminder of the turmoil that followed the 2020 election.
Voters will now have to decide between former President Donald Trump, who has increased his rhetoric to include threats to imprison and even execute political rivals, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running on a platform of bringing the country together and healing its divisions.
“We stand today in the fullness of our faith, power, and purpose,” said Waikinya J.S. Clanton, founder of Black Women for Kamala. Clanton emphasized that her organization is more than a political group. “This journey began with a divine whisper—to build a sacred sanctuary where Black women’s power could shine undimmed and our purpose expand unlimited,” she noted.
With over 78 million early votes already cast, results are expected to roll in throughout the night. However, as polls close in Indiana and Kentucky at 6 p.m. ET and in Georgia and North Carolina, two crucial battleground states, at 7 and 7:30 p.m. Eastern, respectively, early insights could emerge. A decisive victory in one or both states could pave a clearer path, but a tight race would extend the wait for a definitive answer.
Heightened security blankets Washington, D.C., where federal and local officials have fortified the White House, Capitol, and Harris’s residence with barricades, restricted zones, and street closures. Many businesses have boarded up windows and bolstered security, unwilling to take chances. Eric J. Jones from the Apartment and Office Building Association remarked, “It’s just fear—businesses are taking no chances.”
In D.C. and cities nationwide, private security firms report a spike in demand as businesses brace for potential unrest. At Howard University, where Harris will spend election night, streets are closed off for several blocks around The Yard. Supporters and media await what could be a history-making speech from the vice president, marking a powerful close to her final campaign push.
While Trump’s final campaign stops saw smaller crowds and more heated rhetoric, Harris’ rallies in crucial swing states brought thousands of people to Philadelphia, along with performances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. On the campaign trail, Trump’s language has intensified to unprecedented levels, even simulating a lewd act on stage, leaving audiences shocked.
The battleground states stand as the ultimate deciders, with every vote holding weight in Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, which close their polls by 8 p.m. Eastern. But Pennsylvania and other Blue Wall states, such as Michigan and Wisconsin, are likely to see extended vote counts due to high volumes of mail ballots. If early results favor Harris in Georgia and North Carolina, her path to victory will look clearer; if Trump takes the lead, the race could hinge on states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, and counting may continue into the following days.
Western states like Arizona and Nevada may ultimately hold the final answers if results remain unclear in the East. Arizona’s polls close at 9 p.m. ET, and Nevada’s an hour later. Both states are heavily reliant on mail-in ballots, meaning final tallies could be further delayed.
Several fast-counting congressional districts, including Virginia’s Second and Seventh and North Carolina’s First, might offer hints of broader trends. However, the nation remains focused on the top of the ticket.
Campaigning in Michigan, Harris’s running mate Tim Walz made a pitch to men, whom Trump is also courting. “I want you to think about the women in your life that you love,” Walz said. “Their lives are at stake in this election.”
