- By Shivangi Sharma
- Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:35 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
With Donald Trump already declared the US president-elect, Nevada and Arizona remain the last two swing states that are still counting votes. These states are crucial in shaping the overall political landscape following the US election, and as of now, President-elect Donald Trump is leading in both.
Nevada, with its six electoral votes, is on the brink of voting Republican for the first time in two decades, while Arizona, holding 11 electoral votes, has experienced a more fluctuating political landscape, swinging between parties in the past two elections. Both states are key battlegrounds in determining the outcome of the 2024 US presidential race.
The Associated Press has yet to project Donald Trump as the winner in Nevada, and it may take several days before all the state's mail-in ballots are counted and a final vote tally is revealed. Regardless of the outcome, Trump's political gains in this diverse state highlight a larger trend of national political realignment.
A new law requiring poll workers to count the number of early ballots dropped off at polling places before leaving their sites has caused a delay of one to two hours in final Election Day results compared to previous elections.
Why Delay In Calling Nevada And Arizona?
As of now, the election results in Nevada and Arizona remain undecided, with officials continuing to count votes in both states. The delay is not uncommon, given the tight races, the high volume of mail-in ballots, and the thorough processes involved in ensuring accurate counts.
Nevada, despite having only six electoral votes, remains a key battleground state due to its unpredictable voting patterns. The delay in the vote count is due to issues with ballot certifications in Clark and Washoe counties, where more than 700 ballots from young voters had signature mismatches. The final count in Nevada may take several days, similar to the 2020 election, which concluded three days after Election Day and wasn't fully validated until November 24.
ALSO READ: ‘Americans Have Entrusted Us’: Melania’s First Message After Donald Trump’s Historic US Election Win
Arizona also faces the same issue as Nevada, with the counting process slowed down by the verification of early-voting ballots, particularly those dropped off on Election Day that require signature verification. Additionally, ballots with unclear marks made by voters contribute to further delays. A bipartisan team must review these marks to interpret the voter’s intent and prepare new ballots. The staff underestimated the number of such ballots and the resources needed to address them, which has further delayed the count.
Reports indicate that 94 per cent of expected votes have been counted in Nevada, with Trump leading at 51 per cent and Kamala Harris trailing at 47.2 per cent. In Arizona, 70 per cent of votes have been counted, and Trump is ahead with 52.3 per cent, while Harris has 46.8 per cent.