US election 2024: Everything you need to know in maps, graphics and data

As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris make their final pitches, this map and other key data trends show how they’re tackling battleground states to secure their place in the White House.

With the closely-contested US presidential election upon us, here is a summary of everything you might need to know — in graphics.

LAST DAY OF CAMPAIGNING

When it comes to the final days of the US presidential election, what the candidates are saying is less revealing than where they actually say it.

In the final day of the campaign, Donald Trump is squeezing in three swing states – North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan, while Kamala Harris is choosing just to blitz Pennsylvania. With its 19 electoral college votes, it’s the most valuable state for each candidate to win – and it’s also where the polls have been the tightest throughout the campaign.

SWING STATES

The election is expected to be fought, won and lost in seven so-called “swing” states. Of these seven, in five of them the winning margin in the 2020 presidential election was less than one per cent, and the race could be just as tight this time around.

KEY ISSUES

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have attempted to win over the few remaining undecided voters with some at-times surprising stances on election issues.

HOW THE WINNER IS DECIDED

Each state is allocated a certain number of votes in what they call the Electoral College.

There are 538 electoral college votes spread across all 50 states, and whichever candidate gets a simple majority – 270 or more – will become president. In almost all states, it’s a “winner takes all” approach, so the candidate who gets the most support will lay claim to all the electoral college votes in that state. Nebraska and Maine are exceptions – in those states their electoral college votes can be split between different candidates.

WHAT THE POLLS ARE SAYING

There are many polling companies in America spruiking their findings right now; some are national, and some are in battleground states only.

While there are differences, many show an incredibly tight contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

The most recent Times/Siena poll showed Harris with a narrow lead in Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, while Trump was ahead in Arizona. In the other swing states the margin was even tighter.

Other Republican-leaning pollsters have tipped that Donald Trump is on track for a landslide victory, saying other companies have overlooked huge changes in voter registration since the last election.

WHO IS PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE?

Whoever becomes president will have a close circle of trusted advisers around them, including spouses, adult children and friends.

Here are the people who Trump and Harris consider part of their “inner circle”.

KEY MOMENTS FROM THE CAMPAIGN

From assassination attempts to disastrous debates, it has been an eventful presidential election.

Here are some key moments from both campaigns.

TRUMP VERSUS HARRIS

Everything you need to know about the next President of the United States.