ALMOST 100 million US citizens cast early votes in the 2020 race for the White House, with voter turnout set to be one of the largest for presidential elections this century. 

With the result due after the Morning Star went to press, Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden was ahead in the polls, though the race was believed to be tight in the so-called swing states.

According to the US Elections Project, 99,657,079 voters cast their ballots early prior to November 3. This figure exceeds the 47 million who chose to vote early in 2016.

Michael McDonald, professor of political science and polling expert, claimed that this year could see over 62 per cent voter participation, rivalling the highest of the 20th century – 62.8 per cent, in 1960 – in a highly polarised contest.

President Donald Trump and Mr Biden have both campaigned extensively in the battleground states – Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio – needed to secure victory.

Mr Trump held a number of last-minute campaign stops in an attempt to hold onto the states he won in 2016, including Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina and Michigan.

He insisted he would win another term at a midnight rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the night before the election. 

Mr Trump addressed his supporters saying: “This is not the crowd of somebody who is going to lose the state of Michigan […] This is not the crowd of a second-place finisher. Do you agree with that?”

Mr Biden spent election day visiting his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

His candidate for vice president, Kamala Harris, remained confident of Mr Biden’s victory as she tweeted: “When Joe Biden and I are in the White House we’ll listen to scientists, promote masks to save lives, implement nationwide testing and tracing, and ensure vaccines are free to all.”

The next US president will determine the country’s response to Covid-19, the climate emergency, racial justice, gender equality and transatlantic relations.