Welcome to BET's live coverage of Election Night 2024. As Americans cast their votes, we bring you real-time updates on the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, along with key Senate, House, and gubernatorial contests nationwide. Stay tuned for the latest results and insights into the pivotal moments shaping this historic election. With 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election, our interactive map will show the breakdown throughout the day.

Here's a breakdown of how the Electoral College works.

The Electoral College is the mechanism established by the U.S. Constitution for electing the President and Vice President. It comprises 538 electors, with each state allocated a number equal to its total representation in Congress (Senators plus Representatives). The District of Columbia is also granted three electors, bringing the total to 538.

Key Aspects of the Electoral College:

• Elector Allocation: Each state's number of electors equals its total number of Senators (always 2) and Representatives (which varies based on population). For example, California, with 53 Representatives and 2 Senators, has 55 electoral votes.
• Selection of Electors: Political parties in each state typically select slates of potential electors before the general election. The process for choosing these electors varies by state.
• Voting Process: On Election Day, voters cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidate. In reality, they are voting for a slate of electors pledged to that candidate. Most states employ a "winner-takes-all" system, where the candidate with the majority of the popular vote in that state secures all its electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska use a proportional approach, allocating electoral votes based on both statewide and congressional district results.
• Electoral Vote Majority: A candidate must obtain at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. If no candidate achieves this majority, the decision moves to Congress. The House of Representatives elects the President, with each state delegation having one vote, while the Senate elects the Vice President, with each Senator casting one vote.
• Meeting of Electors: Electors convene in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President. These votes are then sent to Congress for counting.
• Certification of Results: In early January, a joint session of Congress counts the electoral votes. The Vice President, serving as President of the Senate, announces the results, officially declaring the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

This system was designed to balance the influence between populous and less populous states, ensuring that presidential candidates must appeal to a broad spectrum of the electorate across the nation.

Stay tuned for updates starting at 3pm EDT.

Polls Update

As of 9 p.m. Eastern Time on November 5, 2024, polls have closed in 15 states, including key battlegrounds such as Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. While some Michigan polls closed earlier at 8 p.m. ET, the entire state concluded voting by 9 p.m. ET. Other states where polls have closed include Minnesota, New York, Colorado, and Texas. It will take time for results to come in from these pivotal states, which are crucial for both Trump and Harris.

Projected Wins


As of November 5, 2024, CBS News has made the following projections and ratings for the presidential race:

Projected Wins for Trump: Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.


Projected Wins for Harris: District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Maryland.


Likely Democratic States: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and Rhode Island.


Leaning Democratic States: Maine, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.


Likely Republican State: Mississippi.


Toss-Up State: Pennsylvania is currently rated as a toss-up, indicating a highly competitive race. These projections are based on current data and are subject to change as more information becomes available.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Debunks Donald Trump's Claims of 'Massive Cheating'



Former President Donald Trump recently claimed on social media that there was "massive CHEATING in Philadelphia," suggesting law enforcement involvement. However, Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein refuted this, stating, "There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure." Similarly, District Attorney Larry Krasner emphasized, "There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation." He added that if Trump has any evidence to support his claims, they are open to reviewing it but are not expecting any substantiated information.

CBS Exit Polls Updates


Early exit polls from CBS News reveal that democracy and the economy are the leading concerns for voters in the 2024 election. Among Trump supporters, the economy ranks highest, with immigration as the next priority. Conversely, Harris supporters prioritize democracy, followed by abortion. These findings align with the central themes emphasized throughout the campaign.Read more at CBS

FBI arrests 2 Michigan men for political threatsThe FBI’s Election Threats Task Force has arrested two men from Michigan—one from Ann Arbor and the other from Jackson—who are now facing charges for making online threats. According to court records, the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center in West Virginia received an anonymous threat online that they traced back to 25-year-old Isaac Sissel from Ann Arbor, according to CBS News.

Part of the message Sissel allegedly sent said: “I shall carry out an attack against conservative Christian filth if Trump wins the election. I have a stolen AR-15 and a target I won’t name so I can keep getting away with my plans. The FBI can’t do a thing until I follow through.”


Sissel was arrested Tuesday morning and is set to appear in court later in the day. In a separate incident, 46-year-old Christopher Pierce from Jackson was also arrested Tuesday. He’s facing a charge for sending threatening emails to a political action committee (PAC) fundraising for the election. According to court documents, Pierce allegedly sent two emails around October 2, threatening to harm or kill people associated with the PAC. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.

What Are The Polls Saying?
As of November 5, 2024, the U.S. presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is exceptionally close.

Here's a snapshot of the latest polling and betting odds:

• FiveThirtyEight: Their poll indicates Harris leading with 48.0% support, while Trump trails slightly at 46.8%.
• 270toWin: Aggregating recent national polls, Harris holds a narrow 1.2% advantage over Trump.
• RealClearPolitics Betting Odds: The betting markets have fluctuated in recent days. On Friday, Trump was favored by 0.3 percentage points. By Monday morning, his lead had diminished to 0.1 points, and by Monday afternoon, the odds were evenly split, reflecting the race's tightness.