US Election: What happens next and when will results be confirmed?

Americans have voted for their next president but counting is ongoing in one of the most historic and potentially controversial elections in US history.

The result of the US election is still uncertain.

Has Donald Trump won?

No. Not yet, anyway.

Despite his claims in a television address that he had won, that the election was a “fraud”, and that vote counting should be stopped with the Republican vote well ahead in key swing states, Donald Trump has not won.

Key swing states, including Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Georgia, are still counting votes and the results of those states will give a clearer indication of who will take their seat in the Oval Office.

What happens next?

We wait until all of the votes are counted, or at the very least, enough votes are counted to make it mathematically impossible for either candidate to win the state as the last votes are counted.

There are several key states yet to have a clear winner. These include; Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Of those, the three key states are Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which together are equal to 46 electoral college votes.

Arizona has been called by the Associated Press as going to Joe Biden, while North Carolina, Georgia and Nevada are all toss-ups.

Millions of ballots are still being counted in these states and could easily swing the vote in Joe Biden’s favour and overtake the lead built up by Donald Trump as votes are counted.

However, Mr Trump has indicated he would take legal action on the results if he loses, but it is not clear on what basis he would do so and he has provided no evidence of electoral fraud.

When will results be confirmed?

Wisconsin is likely to have a clear winner around 7am EST, about 12pm UK time.

Michigan and Pennsylvania are both unlikely to have a clear winner until Friday.

North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada are likely to announce which way they have voted later today or in the early hours of tomorrow.

However, given Mr Trump’s claims of “fraud” – which are unsubstantiated – it is likely he will challenge the result if he loses .

The incumbent president may even take the drastic measure of refusing to leave office.

This will not be over any time soon.

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