In pictures: Election Day in the U.S.

Published · Updated

The White House seen at sunset on the day of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Washington. Image: REUTERS/Erin Scott

Kate Whiting
Senior Writer, Forum Stories
  • Millions of Americans have voted in the 2020 Presidential election.
  • The race for the White House between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden is tight.
  • More than 100 million ballots were cast before Election Day, a new record.
  • But with millions of votes still to be counted, it could still be days before a clear result.

We might not yet know the result of the U.S. election, but it looks set to go down in history for the highest voter turnout.

More than 100 million people cast their vote before Election Day on 3 November. But because of restrictions on early counting of those absentee ballots in the pivotal states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, a clear outcome is unlikely today, according to Reuters - and those states could decide who wins the White House.

As the world waits, here are some of the images that defined Election Day 2020.

Andrew and Nancy Freno emerge from a polling place after casting their votes on Election Day, in Gypsy, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Alan Freed     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2UVJ94RL4X
An elderly couple emerge from a polling station after casting their votes in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Image: REUTERS/Alan Freed

Andrew and Nancy Freno were among those masking up to cast their votes in Gypsy, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It's one of the pivotal states that could decide the election.

Tanner Tillotson writes on a board the results of ballots cast shortly after midnight for the U.S. presidential election at the Hale House at Balsams Hotel in the hamlet of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, U.S., November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Ashley L. Conti     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2HVJ981I6S
Results are written up on a board in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. Image: REUTERS/Ashley L. Conti

Tanner Tillotson writes up the results of ballots in the hamlet of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. It's one of two small communities that traditionally vote just after midnight on Election Day - and deliver the first results.

People line up to vote in the 2020 U.S. presidential election at P.S. 198 in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2OVJ93JP3X
People line up to vote in Manhattan, New York City. Image: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

In New York City, some voting lines snaked around blocks, but in many places, lines were short or non-existent. Poll workers suggested this was due to an unprecedented wave of early voting.

Poll workers wave flags to bring a voter to their location booth at the Registrar of Voters on the day of the U.S. Presidential election in San Diego, California, U.S., November 3, 2020.   REUTERS/Mike Blake     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2UVJ9ZQO7U
Poll workers wave flags to summon voters to their booths in San Diego, California. Image: REUTERS/Mike Blake

In San Diego, California, a poll worker lightened the tension with a unique mask. COVID-19 has been one of the defining issues of the election campaign.

First time voter Donovan Faison wears an unusual mask and sunglasses as he feeds his ballot into a tabulator machine after voting at a polling station during the election in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, U.S., November 3, 2020.   REUTERS/Jonathan Drake - RC2SVJ99MU5R
A first-time voter at a polling station in Durham, North Carolina. Image: REUTERS/Jonathan Drake

First-time voter Donovan Faison feeds his ballot into a tabulator machine at a polling station in Durham, North Carolina. Some 8 million (8%) of the early ballots are reportedly from people voting for the first time.

Voters line up at the John F. Kennedy Library, a Miami-Dade County polling station, during the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Miami, Florida, U.S. November 3, 2020.  REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2ZVJ9VGXXS
Voters line up to vote at the John F. Kennedy Library, in Miami, Florida. Image: REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona

Voters line up at the John F. Kennedy Library, a Miami-Dade County polling station, in Florida. President Trump is projected to have held the must-win state.

Poll workers tabulate absentee ballots at the TCF Center during Election Day in Detroit, Michigan November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2ZVJ9CPXEQ
Poll workers tabulate absentee ballots at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan. Image: REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

Absentee ballots are counted at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan, one of the states which could prove pivotal.

Electoral workers at curbside voting in St. Charles County for voters who have coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during Election Day in Missouri, U.S., November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC21WJ9CDKTQ
Electoral workers at curbside voting for voters who have coronavirus disease. Image: REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant

Those with coronavirus disease in St. Charles County, Missouri, could access curbside voting, with electoral workers dressed in full PPE to help. The U.S. has recorded more than 9.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 - the highest in the world.

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