Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, one of the two will be the next president of the United States after today’s elections in a country wounded by political division.

More than 82 million 700 thousand voters cast their ballots in person (some 44 million 937 thousand) and by mail (more than 37 million 776 thousand) for an election that will not only define who will hold the office of President (or president) 47, but will also determine the renewal of the House of Representatives and part of the Senate.

In addition, there are races for governors, as well as the selection of other state and local authorities.

Estimates from Open Secrets, an organisation that tracks money in politics, warned that the drain in 2024 to elect a president and members of Congress will reach $15.9 billion, putting this year on track to become the most expensive federal election in the country’s history in decades.

In the final weekend of campaigning, both Harris and Trump spent the final weekend closing the circle in the crucial states of the current election cycle, especially in Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

It was in the city of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) where the Democrat ended a marathon day last night in a key state, which she and her rival courted because of the importance of the Latino vote.

Philadelphia, are you ready to vote, are you ready to win,» Harris asked an enthusiastic audience shortly after a star-studded opening rally: Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

For his part, Trump continued to raise the spectre of voter fraud and, without providing evidence, said his opponents «are fighting very hard to steal this thing».

Speaking to ABC News, Trump said he could imagine losing the presidential election, but «yeah, I guess, you know,» hinting at the possibility of it being rigged, because he said he has «a pretty substantial lead».

However, with polls showing minimal differences between the two candidates, neither campaign, judging by the numbers, has a substantial lead, despite Trump’s comments almost announcing his victory in advance.

A letter to Trump, released last night by filmmaker Michael Moore, predicted that «when you lose this election (and you will), don’t ‘declare victory’ before the polls close. Don’t say you ‘won’ when only 23 percent of the vote has been counted. Don’t lie to the American people again,» referring to the former president’s false claims in 2020.

The United States is already in an election. The National Guard is on alert as a precautionary measure in several states, including Washington and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three mailboxes were set on fire. Political violence is not ruled out.

In the capital, the White House is not visible. It is hidden behind numerous obstacles and the nearly two-metre black fences that surround it.