Barbed fences and riot-ready police: America awaits its verdict tomorrow

WASHINGTON: As the US approaches the 2024 presidential election, anticipation builds around two critical questions: Will Donald Trump return to the White House for a second term, or will the country witness its first female president of Indian origin, Kamala Harris? The outcome of this election, as always, rests heavily on America’s swing states, where neither party holds a firm majority. These states contribute 93 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency.

Current surveys suggest that Trump may secure a majority in the seven swing states, a significant shift from 2020 when he only won North Carolina. President Biden, on the other hand, narrowly carried states like Arizona and Georgia, with margins of less than 12,000 votes. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, Biden managed a stronger hold last election but both states are once again up for grabs.

This election cycle is also marked by heightened security measures. Authorities are bracing for potential post-election unrest, with preparations including barbed wire fencing around the Philadelphia counting center and bulletproof glass installations in Detroit and Atlanta. Security forces are not only preparing for physical disruptions but also ramping up cyber defence amid concerns over foreign interference from powers like Russia, whose interest in influencing U.S. policy impacts global geopolitics.

A host of international issues is shaping this election, such as the Gaza conflict, the broader West Asian unrest, immigration and racial tensions. In Arizona, where immigration remains a critical concern due to its border with Mexico, Trump’s anti-immigration stance has given him an edge. Meanwhile, Michigan, home to a substantial Arab-American population, is focused on the U.S. response to the Gaza conflict.

Despite facing four criminal charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, a predominantly Black state, Trump continues to draw substantial support from white Americans. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, is campaigning to make history as the first female president and the first president of Indian origin, drawing significant support from diverse demographic groups.

With both candidates holding strong support among key voting blocs, the 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and consequential in recent U.S. history.