BBC News Briefing

4 November, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. The official date of the US election is 5 November, but more than 78 million Americans have made use of their states' early voting options. Anthony Zurcher and Brandon Denon explain the significance of the data. As both Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump make stops in Pennsylvania today, we look at what makes the state key in the election - and how some voters feel about it. Finally, Mark Savage remembers the late Quincy Jones through 10 of his best tunes.

GET UP TO SPEED

The Spanish city of Barcelona has been hit by flooding, as search and rescue efforts continue around Valencia following devastating flooding last week.

Relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have expressed their outrage after it emerged that an Israeli government spokesperson has been arrested for allegedly leaking documents that may have undermined a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned violence that broke out at a Hindu temple in the Canadian city of Brampton on Sunday amid frosty diplomatic relations between the two countries.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Early voting proves popular in US election

Each state handles early voting differently, but a nationwide picture can emerge nonetheless. Credit: Reuters

More than 78 million people have cast their ballots ahead of election day in the US on Tuesday, which could suggest a bigger than usual turnout this year. Early voting is continuing in three battleground states on Monday: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent, and Brandon Denon, in North Carolina

How does this number compare to previous elections?

This year's early voting totals are well shy of the 101.5m early ballots cast in 2020, when Covid-19 kept many away from crowded polling places, but it’s more than the total early votes cast in 2016 (47.2m) or 2012 (46.2m).

Where is early voting proving popular?

Multiple states are breaking early voting records. North Carolina is one of the seven battleground states that could determine the election, and the leading battleground state for total number of early voting ballots cast. Just over 4.4 million people voted early in the Tar Heel State, toppling the record set in 2020 which saw 3.6 million ballots cast before election day.

What can we learn from early voting data?

Some states release raw totals of votes cast through mail-in ballots, in-person voting days or both. Many share the party registration of voters and sometimes more detailed demographic information, such as gender, race and age. The rest of the picture, however, is much murkier and any insight into this election season is best taken with a heavy dose of salt.

Three trends observed

Election results: Bernd Debusmann Jr explains how votes are counted and verified across different states, and how long the process might take.

Poll tracker: Who is ahead in the race - Kamala Harris or Donald Trump?

Get the latest: Stay up to date as the candidates push their closing messages to voters.

AT THE SCENE

Pennsylvania, USA

The state that may decide the election

A mural depicts a child running and smiling while holding baloons. Writing on the wall reads 'vote for our community!'

The state can be seen as a microcosm of the US – demographically, economically and politically. Credit: BBC

Pennsylvania is the biggest prize in the US electoral battleground map, so it's no wonder that both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are focusing on the state in the final stretch of the election campaign. But not every voter in the state relishes the spotlight.

Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC News

I've just a few minutes ago arrived in Allentown, Pennsylvania - a majority Latino town where both candidates have campaigned this election cycle. It's also the site of a Harris rally just a few hours from now.

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My first effort to talk to voters here was met with a bit of scorn. "I'm really tired of this all. TV is nothing but commercials for these people," a quick-talking and animated Dominican, who asked only to be identified as Diego told me. "The rest of the time nobody comes to interview us. Just elections."

The must-win state

A tale of two rallies: This video takes you to Michigan to get a feel of the mood among the crowds at a Donald Trump event and one for Kamala Harris.

Undecided voters: Throughout the campaign, the BBC has been speaking to undecided voters. Just before election day, we find out if they've made up their minds.

When it clicks: Seven voters share the moment they decided which candidate to pick.

THE BIG PICTURE

Iranian woman's arrest causes concern

A woman with long hair wearing purple underwear sits on some steps while groups of men and women talk nearby

The woman was filmed sitting in her underwear at a university in Tehran before walking down a nearby street. Credit: Telegram

Human rights activists have urged Iranian authorities to release a woman who was filmed being forcibly detained after removing her clothes in public in Tehran. BBC Persian's Parham Ghobadi looks into what we know about the woman and what happened to her.

Find out more

View of Las Vegas at night with a large portion of the image taken up by green neon lights.

FOR YOUR DOWNTIME

Sin City goes green

Las Vegas is at the forefront of the push towards renewable energy.

How it works

And finally... in the US

We learned on Monday the passing of producer extraordinaire Quincy Jones. From Billie Jean to We Are The World, our music correspondent Mark Savage is sharing 10 songs that explain his brilliance. Check out the playlist here.

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– Sofia

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