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Election day in the United States began with a midnight vote in New Hampshire. There the winner was quickly counted. But now is the time to wait for Trump and Biden. The president again suspected fraud.
By Julia Kastein, ARD-Studio Washington
When polls in Maine’s small state capital, Augusta, open at 7 a.m. local time today, a pleasant surprise awaits voters in the northeastern U.S.: Outdoor area radiant heaters to make the wait is a little more pleasant when the forecast is below zero and snow showers.
“So people, if they wait a lot here on Election Day, have at least a little warmth,” says City Director William Bridgeo. He had the heating elements installed, with the money his city owes Mark Zuckerberg. The Facebook founder and his wife donated a total of a quarter of a million dollars to arm financially weak communities in the United States for this election day.
100 million people have already voted
Bridgeo, 70, has already seen many elections: “In the last 48 years, I have not experienced as much energy and passion as with this election.”
And not just in Augusta: already before Election Day, nearly 100 million US citizens across the country cast their vote by mail or so-called “early voting” – 70 percent of all voters in 2016. Turnout among young voters it is already twice as much as four years ago.
And it should be tight: In the decisive states, candidates are almost on par, according to polls. Consequently, they worked hard to finish the election campaign: incumbent Donald Trump made five appearances in four states: in Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Voters gave him his surprise victory in 2016.
Help from Lady Gaga
Democrat Joe Biden focused primarily on Pennsylvania, with three events. The state could be the deciding factor. And the former vice president was ahead, at least in terms of star appeal, thanks to a guest appearance from Lady Gaga.
Trump suspects fraud
A main theme on the last day of the election campaign: the integrity of the election itself. Trump warned that a “very dangerous situation” had arisen in Pennsylvania because in undecided states ballots that were sent up to three days after the election were allowed to count. Mail has been received. And then he sent an ominous warning to the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania: “So please, dear Governor, please don’t cheat. We’re watching you.”
In an evening tweet, immediately given a warning, Trump put it back: Because of Pennsylvania, there is a threat of violence on the streets.
Former Vice President Biden asked American voters not to be concerned: “My message is very simple: you have the power to change this country. And I don’t care what Trump tries to do: he can’t do anything, to stop the country from voting. “.
Parties send election observers
Both parties want to send election observers to the polling stations today. Trump had explicitly asked his supporters to do so. And many experts fear that this “Trump Army” may try to intimidate voters. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro yesterday tried to reassure his state’s voters: “We will not accept intimidation of the voters of any candidate of any party. The police are ready to stop this. This will be a safe and reliable election. . “
William Brigdeo, an elections supervisor at little Augusta in Maine, also fears that someone might lose their temper in the country’s hot atmosphere, especially since everyone in his state can openly carry their gun. Even in the electoral college. “I’m worried that a couple of rioters will show up at the polling station as election observers. You can have a semi-automatic gun here without a license. And we have enough morons who like to do that.”
Like many Americans, the city manager rejoices when he has this day behind him: “This election campaign has been going on for so long. Everyone is exhausted by it. It can’t go by fast enough.”
