More than 78 million American voters had already cast their ballot by Monday morning, on the eve of Election Day as Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump crisscrossed the seven battleground states with their closing remarks.
Harris, 60, and Trump, 78 are the main nominees representing the two largest political parties in the US -- the Democratic and the Republican parties respectively.
The White House race is essentially between these two, but there are others, who have no chance whatsoever of winning but who can spoil it for the two main nominees in the contest that has been called closed in recent decades. They both stand to make history if they win.
Harris will become the first woman elected President, the first African-American woman, the first Asian-American woman, and the first Indian-American elected to the top office.
If Trump wins, he will become only the second former President to lose his re-election bid and then win on this third again, Grover Cleveland was the first.
They are Robert F. Kennedy, 70. The nephew of President John F Kennedy and son of presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy, he tried to challenge President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary but declared himself to be an independent later. Although he has suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump, he remains on the ballot in certain states and may be able to transfer his voters to Trump.
Cornel West, a 71-year-old progressive academic, is also in the fray as an Independent.
Jill Stein, 74 of the Green Party is running yet again; she has been partly blamed for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's narrow defeat to Trump in the battleground states in 2016 and the race.
Both West's and Stein's appeals overlap with certain sections of the progressive liberals who generally belong to the larger tent of the Democratic Party.
Chase Olivier, 39, belongs to the Libertarian Party is the other nominee. He, and earlier Kennedy, could cut into the libertarian votes in the Republican Party.
‘Pahalgam incident deeply disturbing & tragic’: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack as disturbing & tragic and also condoled the victims and their families.
Congress finally deletes 'Gayab' post targeting PM Modi after outrage
Under fire from the BJP over its social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress finally, on Tuesday, took down the controversial post.
Guterres calls EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; stresses pursuing justice in Pahalgam terror attack
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice in the Pahalgam terrorist attack while speaking with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Congress organises ‘Save Constitution’ rallies across NE states
The opposition Congress has been organising ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) campaign in the northeastern states. Claiming that the Constitution is in danger under the BJP-led Central government, the opposition Congress held a massive rally in Agartala on Tuesday.
RSS chief Bhagwat meets PM Modi after security huddle: Signs of a hard-hitting response in the works
In a significant political development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday evening.
What PM Modi's free hand to armed forces against terror means for cross-border action?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unambiguous message during a high-level security meeting - ‘India is determined to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism’ - marks more than just a strong statement of resolve.
Justice BR Gavai appointed as next Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 29, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005.
Three more Bangladeshi nationals held in Tripura
The Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, for illegally entering India, officials said.