Election Day 2024 has come and gone, but for many states, the job is far from over. As the countdown to presidential results continues, battleground states are working around the clock to count ballots and ensure a smooth final tally. While the day itself largely went smoothly, the process has been marred by bomb threats, voting delays, and challenges in verifying voter information.
In this post, we’ll break down the state of play in key battleground states, the ongoing efforts to count votes, and what the threats mean for the overall election outcome.
What Happened on Election Day 2024?
Despite some sporadic issues—including long lines, minor machine malfunctions, and unfounded claims of voter fraud—Election Day 2024 proceeded without major disruptions. Polls closed across the United States, and attention immediately shifted to counting the votes. But the bomb threats, originating from Russian email domains, created additional stress for state election officials. In many cases, these threats were not deemed credible, but they led to temporary polling place closures and delays.
Let’s dive into the situation in each major battleground state, where the final results are still being counted.
Key Battleground States in the Spotlight
Michigan: Leading the Charge in Early Results
Michigan, a crucial battleground in the presidential race, is on track to be one of the first states to report complete unofficial results. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has confirmed that despite receiving several bomb threats (none of which were credible), the state’s in-person voting process and ballot counting has proceeded without significant issues.
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New Voting Laws: Michigan implemented new voting measures for the 2024 election, including early in-person voting and mail-in ballot processing. The results from Detroit, a Democratic-heavy area, are particularly important for both presidential candidates.
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Final Ballots in Detroit: Officials anticipate that the last batch of 4,000 Detroit ballots will be processed shortly, and the state is expected to report complete results soon.
Georgia: Tensions Mount as Trump Takes the Lead
Georgia has seen significant election drama, with Donald Trump projected to win the state around 12:30 a.m. ET. However, approximately 400,000 ballots remain to be counted, including many from metro Atlanta and Chatham County. Georgia officials had to extend voting hours due to bomb threats at polling locations.
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32 Bomb Threats in Fulton County: One of the most affected areas was Fulton County, a Democratic-leaning county in Georgia, where 32 bomb threats were reported. Despite these disruptions, the counting process in the county proceeded smoothly, with no major delays.
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Final Ballots to Count: With only a small percentage of ballots left to be processed, Georgia is in the final stages of counting, and Trump’s early advantage in the state may solidify as more votes come in.
Nevada: Late Poll Closures and Young Voter Issues
In Nevada, voters had to contend with long lines, especially in Clark County, where polls stayed open until after midnight ET. Election Day ballots are still being tallied, and a signature issue emerged among young voters, many of whom struggle with the traditional signature requirement for ballots.
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Signature Verification: Nevada officials estimate that more than 11,000 ballots need to be verified due to signature mismatches, and they have reached out to young voters to fix these issues. Voters have until November 12 to resolve their signature problems.
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No Major Issues Reported: Despite the challenges with signatures, Nevada’s Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar confirmed that the election process in the state went smoothly, with no significant interruptions caused by threats.
Pennsylvania: Key Votes Still to Be Counted
In Pennsylvania, one of the most critical states in the election, there are still significant numbers of mail-in ballots and in-person votes to be counted, particularly from Philadelphia.
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202,713 Mail-In Ballots: Philadelphia reported receiving over 202,000 mail-in ballots, and counting them could take time. The city also received more than 400,000 votes at polling locations, making it a key battleground for both candidates.
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Software Issues and Hand Counts: Some areas, like Cambria County, experienced software issues that required ballots to be hand-counted, which could delay final results. However, officials are working swiftly to resolve these problems and push the tally forward.
Wisconsin: Tight Races and Counting Delays
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 75% of absentee ballots have already been processed. However, an issue with tabulator machines has led to a recount of about 30,000 ballots. Despite the recount, officials are optimistic that the counting will conclude soon.
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Election Observers Onsite: Republican officials, including Senator Ron Johnson, have visited the Milwaukee County count centre to monitor the process and raise concerns about the initial tabulation error.
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Delays in Milwaukee: While the recount is underway, officials expect the tally to be completed after midnight, with final results likely to be reported shortly.
Arizona: Students and Bomb Threats Disrupt Voting
Arizona saw a mix of late polling closures and bomb threats, particularly in Tempe, where hundreds of college students had to wait in line until the final hour to cast their ballots. The state also experienced bomb threats that appear to have originated from Russian email domains.
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Long Waits at Polling Places: Students at Arizona State University were determined to vote, with some standing in line for hours. While the state had long waits and some technical issues, voting officials are confident that the process was fair.
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Counting Process: Arizona is still processing ballots, particularly those from young voters who were disproportionately affected by the signature mismatch issue that also arose in Nevada.
Conclusion: What’s Next for the 2024 Election Results?
As battleground states race to count the remaining ballots, the final results in Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona will shape the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election. Despite some challenges, including bomb threats, long lines, and signature verification issues, the overall election process has gone smoothly, and officials remain committed to ensuring every vote is counted.
In the coming days, we will likely see more state-by-state updates as each state finalises its tally. Whether you’re backing Trump or Harris, the next few days will be crucial in determining the next occupant of the White House.
