We're about to get the first results in the election to determine whether President Trump gets a second term or voters replace him with former Vice President Joe Biden.
The latest: The polls close at 7 pm Eastern in the critical swing states of Florida and Georgia. Ohio's polls close at 7:30 pm, while North Carolina's early and mail voting results are expected to be delayed until at least 8:15 pm due to technical glitches.
- Trump is watching the returns from the White House. Biden is watching at his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Trump is likely to speak at some point tonight, but Biden hedged Tuesday afternoon on whether he'd do so, per Axios' Alexi McCammond: "If there's something to talk about tonight I'll talk about it. If not, I'll wait until the votes have been counted the next day."
What we're watching: Tonight's contests also will determine whether Republicans keep the Senate or Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress.
- Just how big and diverse the turnout is in key states may determine whether we're witnessing a change election, or more of a front-loading of votes in place of in-person, Election Day voting.
The big picture: The coronavirus pandemic has made this election a referendum on Trump's management of a public health and economic crisis that's so far killed 232,000 Americans and infected more than 9.3 million.
- The virus prompted most states to expand their mail-in and early voting options. Early returns suggest we'll reach new records for voter turnout.
- Washington, D.C. and other major cities are on guard for civil unrest.
- Officials have warned it may be days before a winner can be declared.
