WASHINGTON: American voters began going to the polls Tuesday to pick a new president who will steer the United States through a litany of nettlesome issues, including deep national division, still-high prices, and global security challenges, such as North Korea's nuclear adventurism and Russia's war in Ukraine. The high-stakes Election Day capped an extremely close and eventful race between Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, 60, and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, 78, with both candidates offering sharply contrasting profiles in terms of age, gender, race, political inclinations, and policy orientation.According to Yonhap News Agency, roughly 244 million Americans are eligible to vote in 2024. If voter turnout matches the 66.6 percent seen in the 2020 election, more than 162 million will cast ballots in this election cycle. Early voting has already seen more than 81 million Americans cast their ballots, as reported by data from the University of Florida's Election Lab. To secure the presid ency, a candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes out of the total 538 electors representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with seven swing states-Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina-expected to play a crucial role in achieving that number.Pennsylvania, in particular, has been a focal point of election-year attention due to its 19 electoral votes, the highest among the swing states, which could significantly impact the path to surpassing the 270 Electoral College threshold. Internationally, South Korea is closely monitoring the U.S. election results, as the outcome could influence America's foreign policy, affecting the Seoul-Washington alliance and the approach to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats.If Harris is elected, she is anticipated to continue key aspects of President Joe Biden's foreign policy, focusing on strengthening a network of U.S. allies and partners to confront shared security challenges. On the other hand, a Trump victo ry would likely emphasize his "America first" policy, urging allies and partners to assume more responsibility for their security and reducing America's costly overseas involvement.This election cycle has been marked by unprecedented events, including two assassination attempts against Trump, Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race, and Trump's legal challenges, including a conviction in a hush-money trial. The timeline for announcing the election winner remains uncertain, with the potential for delays due to close races in battleground states, which could necessitate recounts or be affected by unforeseen issues at polling stations.The winner of the presidential race is scheduled to take office on January 20. Additionally, the election will determine the fate of 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats. Currently, Democrats hold a slight majority in the Senate, controlling 51 seats with the support of three independents who caucus with them, while Republicans hold 49 seats. In the House, Republicans ma intain a narrow majority with 220 seats compared to the Democrats' 212.
- October 12, 2026
