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This article will be continually updated.
Don’t miss a thing: You can find all the developments and the most important background information about the US Presidential elections. In our Topic page.
Juncker Warns Against Premature Congratulations on U.S. Elections
4.30 am: Former EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker advises European heads of state and government not to express too clear preferences for the outcome of the US elections. Speaking clearly in favor of a victory for incumbent Donald Trump or his challenger Joe Biden is not convenient from their point of view, Juncker told the European ARD study in Brussels. If, for example, Trump becomes president again, then one will have to live with him too.
Juncker also warned against sending congratulations before the election result is final. If it were the other, you won’t forget it. “Caution is the mother of the transatlantic porcelain box,” said the 65-year-old, who was also Luxembourg’s prime minister for many years.
In the EU, for example, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a Trump sympathizer. Above all, many Western European heads of state and government are said to have a clear preference for Biden.
Voting registration before Election Day in the US
4.20 am: A few hours before the regular opening of polling stations in the United States, experts report a record in the number of pre-voters. The University of Florida’s Early Elections Project recorded 98.4 million votes cast Tuesday night, either by mail or at polling stations that were already open. That’s roughly 40 percent of all eligible U.S. citizens and 71.4 percent of the total turnout four years ago. This year is shaping up one of the largest participations in recent decades.
Confident Biden before Election Day
4 am: US presidential candidate Joe Biden was optimistic just before Election Day. “I have the feeling that tomorrow we are rallying for a great victory,” Biden said in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday night (local time). Pennsylvania could play a crucial role in the presidential election. Biden will return to the state on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow is the dawn of a new day,” Biden shouted to his supporters, who, due to the risk of corona, returned to the election campaign event as in a drive-in movie. “Tomorrow we can end a presidency that has divided our nation and lit the flame of hatred.” Before Biden’s appearance, Lady Gaga played various songs and asked for a vote for him.
Trump warns of “street violence” after ruling on vote-by-mail deadlines
3.40 am: Following a Supreme Court ruling on vote-by-mail deadlines in the US state of Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump issued a warning against “street violence.” The court’s “very dangerous” decision to allow certain vote-by-mail documents to be counted days after the election will lead to “rampant and uncontrolled fraud,” Trump said on Twitter and Facebook.
“Something has to be done,” Trump continued. Both platforms immediately flagged the message with a warning.
Last week, the Supreme Court did not contradict local regulations, according to which vote-by-mail ballots can still be counted normally if they arrive three days after Tuesday’s elections. However, the judges reserved the right to re-examine the case in detail after the election.
Pennsylvania is one of the particularly competitive states in elections. Polls see Democrat Joe Biden leading the way, but very close to President Donald Trump, who won the state in 2016.
Due to the corona pandemic, many more people voted by mail. The counting of these votes is more complicated than that of the regular votes of the electoral colleges. Therefore, Pennsylvania authorities have warned that the count could be extended until Friday.
Trump has signaled that he could defend himself against the delay in court. Polls before the election suggested that polling station votes would tend to be in favor of Trump and mail-in votes in favor of Biden.
Florida Former Criminals Before the US Elections
03.15 am: A referendum in Florida should restore your right to vote to criminal convictions. Then Republicans and Trump-appointed judges intervened. Former prisoners could still play a decisive role in the elections. Read more here.
