Battleground states counted ballots quickly after mostly smooth Election Day vote

Battleground states worked into the early hours of Wednesday to tally outstanding ballots after a largely smooth Election Day, despite disruptions caused by fake bomb threats targeting multiple states. The results indicated that Donald Trump had secured the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, while Republicans were poised to retain control of the Senate. The outcome of the House remained uncertain.

Fake Bomb Threats Disrupt Voting but Do Not Derail Process

On Election Day, bomb threats were reported in five key battleground states, targeting polling places and government offices where votes were being counted. While these threats were ultimately deemed not credible, they caused temporary closures at some voting precincts. The FBI investigated the threats, with some originating from Russian email domains. However, officials have not yet confirmed whether the threats were directly linked to Russian actors.

Fulton County, Georgia, a crucial Democratic stronghold, was hit with 32 bomb threats, but officials reported that voting proceeded without significant disruptions. Similarly, Michigan, where several precincts received bomb threats, also avoided major delays. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson stated that despite the threats, the state experienced a smooth Election Day, aided by new voting laws allowing for nine days of early voting and early tabulation of mail-in ballots.

Key Battleground States Report Progress

Michigan
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reported that Michigan was on track to be the first battleground state to release unofficial results. Approximately 4,000 ballots from Detroit were expected to arrive at the city’s counting center for processing. The state had a successful early voting period, thanks to new laws that enabled early tabulation of mail ballots. Despite the bomb threats, the election went smoothly without significant disruptions in voting.

Georgia
CNN projected that Trump won Georgia early Wednesday morning, after an extended count of around 400,000 remaining ballots. Many of the uncounted votes were from metro Atlanta, with additional absentee ballots still to be processed. Despite bomb threats causing extended voting hours in several locations, Georgia election officials reported a smooth election day. Notably, Fulton County, which had been a focus of prior controversies, managed its vote counting with little disruption.

Nevada
In Nevada, polls closed after midnight ET due to long lines at polling locations. Clark County officials began processing mail-in ballots on Wednesday, while the state’s overall election proceeded without major incidents. However, Nevada’s young voters encountered issues with signature mismatches, as many had not used their “real” signatures in years. Over 11,000 ballots in Clark County needed verification, and voters had until November 12 to address signature issues.

Pennsylvania
CNN projected Trump to win Pennsylvania, a critical state for his reelection bid, though many ballots remained uncounted. Philadelphia was a focal point, with over 200,000 mail-in ballots still to be processed. Cambria County faced delays due to a software malfunction that required a hand-count of some ballots, though most counties reported smooth operations. Bomb threats in multiple counties led to extended voting times and temporary evacuations, including in Bellefonte, where a threat targeted the Centre County Elections office.

Wisconsin
Trump also won Wisconsin, with CNN projecting his victory early Wednesday. In Milwaukee, about 75% of absentee ballots had been counted by late Tuesday, but the city faced a minor hiccup when an error in setting up tabulator machines required a recount of approximately 30,000 ballots. While the recount process delayed final results, the city made swift progress, despite Republican concerns about the mishap. The city’s election officials worked under close scrutiny, with Republicans calling for additional oversight.

Arizona
In Arizona, long lines at polling places, particularly at Arizona State University, were reported as voting continued into the late hours of Election Day. Many students remained in line to cast their ballots, with no sign of anyone abandoning their place. Arizona also faced bomb threats at several polling locations, some of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, though the authenticity of the threat remained unverified.

Conclusion

Despite a few isolated challenges, including long lines, technical issues, and bomb threats, the Election Day process largely unfolded without major disruptions. The quick counting of ballots in battleground states provided a clear picture of the race’s outcome, with Trump securing the necessary Electoral College votes to win, while the House and Senate races remain too close to call. Voter engagement, particularly in key swing states like Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, remained strong, setting the stage for a final determination of control over the legislative branch.