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Election result too close to call - 6th November 2020

Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s battle for the US presidency climaxed on Tuesday. The tight race made every vote count as both sides sensed victory.

The pandemic meant early and postal voting was widespread. This led to more people voting than ever before. This democratic success has been challenged in several states. Republicans limited voting places and claimed postal votes were illegal.

Biden: "We knew because of the unprecedented early vote, and the mail-in vote, that it was going to take a while. We're going to have to be patient until we, the hard work of tallying the votes is finished. And it ain't over till every vote is counted, every ballot is counted."

With many crucial votes not decided, President Trump made his own victory announcement. He’s accused states of election fraud without evidence. Trump’s legal team is attempting to throw out millions of ballots.

Trump: "We were winning everything and all of a sudden it was just called off. The results tonight have been phenomenal and we are getting ready, I mean literally, we were just all set to get outside and just celebrate something that was so beautiful, so good. Such a vote, such a success."

Mr Biden criticised President Trump’s behaviour, saying the public were in charge.

Biden: "As I've said all along, it's not my place or Donald Trump's place to declare who's won this election. That's the decision of the American people. But I'm optimistic about this outcome."

The president isn’t the person who receives the most votes. Candidates are given ‘electoral college’ votes for each state they win. George W Bush and Donald Trump became president although more people voted for their opponent. Biden has broken the popular vote record, but the result was too close to call.