Where to watch US election live results in Australia

The US presidential election is shaping up to be one of the closest and most divisive polls in recent history. Here’s how you can follow election day live coverage.

America’s most important day is upon us, with the country to decide who will be their next US President.

Will Donald Trump maintain his presidential post or will Democrat Joe Biden achieve a phenomenal triumph and take over the White House?

News sites, TV stations and journalists from all over the world will be covering the action live and as it happens, including our crew here at news.com.au.

We recommend you follow us on what will undoubtedly be a dramatic journey as Americans take to the polls.

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Donald Trump and Joe Biden are in for a tumultuous week. Picture: Jim Watson/Saul Loeb/AFP

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Here’s what you need to know:

WHEN IS THE US ELECTION?

The US election will be held on Tuesday, November 3.

For Aussies watching it unfold, it will technically kick off on that date local time, although most of the action will unfold the following day for us, which is Wednesday, November 4.

HOW CAN WE WATCH?

• news.com.au will lead comprehensive coverage of the US election here.

• Sky News is set to begin official coverage at 5am, with Peter Stefanovic, Chris Kenny, Joe Hockey, Peta Credlin, Paul Murray, Alan Jones and Rita Panahi among the panellists. News anchor Kieran Gilbert will anchor the key events.

• ABC News will begin coverage at 6am on ABC TV and ABC iview, with David Speers, Leigh Sales and Ellen Fanning among the hosts.

• Channel 9’s coverage begins with the 9News Early Edition at 5am, followed by an extended episode of Today which will run until 11am. Then the election coverage will begin, hosted by Peter Overton, as well as Nine political expert Charles Croucher.

• Channel 7’s coverage begins with Sunrise live from 5.30am AEDT, followed by for all-day live rolling coverage from 10am. A special edition of The Latest with Michael Usher live from 10.30pm AEDT.

• US channel CNN, which is on Foxtel, will begin special coverage around the clock from November 1.

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President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally. Picture: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images/AFP

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WHEN WILL WE KNOW WHO WON?

Throughout the day, news organisations will typically call a state once they believe one candidate has a clear lead there, although those calls are not always set in stone.

And while polls close at different times in different states, a result is traditionally announced on election night, usually before or around 10pm.

That means that in Australia, it’s possible we could have a result by about 1pm on Wednesday, November 4 AEST.

However, there are fears a final result may not be known for days or even weeks this time around because of a massive increase in people voting by mail in 2020 because of the threat of COVID-19, which was made all the clearer after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron were all struck down by the illness.

Those votes take longer to count and in some states postal votes may still be accepted after election day, depending on the local law.

In other words, we will start getting initial results within hours, but when we’ll get the final official winner is anyone’s guess.