Election too close to call

The election has ended but the decision is far from over.

After millions of Americans voted in an election overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, political watchers and ordinary Americans remained on tenterhooks as the count began on Tuesday.

At 10:13 p.m. EST, both Trump and Biden had paths to the White House as hopes for a thunderous Democratic landslide appeared to wane as crucial states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida were too close to call. CNN had given 89 votes to Biden and 72 to Trump in the race for victory in the Electoral College.

Political analysts did not forecast that the winner of the presidency would be declared at the end of Tuesday night’s vote, as many mail-in ballots will still have to be factored in battlegrounds such as swing state Pennsylvania.

Already, a number of states ended voting around 7 p.m., while others closed by 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

More than 100 million early ballots streamed in before election day, where long lines snaked around building,s while in other places the turnout was not as high as anticipated.

In New York, many voters braved windy and chilly weather to stand in line to be able to cast their votes.

But while the main focus is on electing the president, the entire US House of Representatives is also up for re-election. Thirty-five seats in the Senate and 11 governorships are also on the line.

Democrats currently hold a majority of 232 seats in the House of Representatives and are expected to pick up an additional 10 seats in the elections.

Control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate and winning the White House would give the Democrats a clean sweep of the levers of government.

As the early returns began filtering in, many in the Jamaican/Caribbean community wondered aloud if President Donald Trump will be elected.

Jamaican New York State Assemblyman, N. Nick Perry, said he was not nervous but disappointed at the turnout among black voters in Florida.

“I still think Biden will win. A win in Florida would have sealed the deal earlier, but now we have to wait for other states to come in,” said Perry.

Lester Hinds