Washington: Around 120 million Americans are expected to go to polls on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (Wednesday, November 9, 2016 in India) when Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald J Trump will battle it out to become the 45th President of the United States.
Polls will open across 50 states in USA and Washington DC from 6 am GMT (11:30 am IST) to 7 am GMT (12: 30 pm IST) and close by 07:00 pm GMT (12: 30 am IST) to 8 pm GMT (1: 30 am IST). However, in Iowa and North Dakota, the polls are open up to 9 pm GMT (2: 30 am IST).
The winner is expected to be announced by 4 am GMT (9: 30 am IST). The formal announcement of the winner would not be revealed until January 2, 2017 when Vice-president Joe Biden will announce the Electoral College vote.
Those who win a state's popular vote are apportioned the state's electors, the number of which is roughly in line to the size of its population.
Florida is the mother of all swing states, with 29 electoral votes. It can make or break a candidate, as in 2000, when a few hundred votes separated eventual President George W. Bush and Democratic contender Al Gore.
Pennsylvania, with 20 electoral votes, and Ohio, with 18, are also key, along with North Carolina, Colorado and Arizona.
Potentially, candidates could also forge a path to 270 by winning enough small states such as Nevada, Iowa and New Hampshire -- or by winning a state that's historically voted for the opposing camp.
Here's a list of major swing states according to AFP, the number of electoral votes and the averages of recent polls through November 4 in a four-way race -- including the outsiders, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green candidate Jill Stein, and who won the state in the last two elections:
Florida: 29 electoral votes
Clinton has 47.4 percent support, Trump 46.2 percent
2008 and 2012: Barack Obama (D)
Pennsylvania: 20 electoral votes
Clinton at 46.8 percent, Trump at 43.8 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
Ohio: 18 electoral votes
Trump at 46.3 percent, Clinton at 43 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
Georgia: 16 electoral votes
Trump at 48.3 percent, Clinton at 42.7 percent
2008: John McCain (R)
2012: Mitt Romney (R)
Michigan: 16 electoral votes
Clinton at 46 percent, Trump at 40.3 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
North Carolina: 15 electoral votes
Trump at 46.8 percent, Clinton at 46 percent
2008: Obama (D)
2012: Romney (R)
Virginia: 13 electoral votes
Clinton at 46.6 percent, Trump at 41.4 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
Arizona: 11 electoral votes
Trump at 46.3 percent, Clinton at 42.3 percent
2008: McCain (R)
2012: Romney (R)
Colorado: Nine electoral votes
Clinton at 42.8 percent, Trump at 40.2 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
Iowa: Six electoral votes
Trump at 41.7 percent, Clinton at 40.3 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
Nevada: Six electoral votes
Trump at 46 percent, Clinton at 44 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
New Hampshire: Four electoral votes
Trump at 43.5 percent, Clinton at 42 percent
2008 and 2012: Obama (D)
To become the next US President, the candidate must get 270 Electoral College votes. Following the counting of votes and the declaration of results, the new President will assume office on January 20, 2017 and ill take Oath of Office at around noon on the inauguration day.
A total of 538 electoral votes are in play, corresponding to the total number of elected representatives in Congress (435 members of the House and 100 senators) plus three for the US capital Washington, DC.
