Republican Donald Trump faces Democrat Kamala Harris in the US presidential election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, US time.
Trump will attempt to return to the White House after becoming one-term president and losing to Joe Biden in 2020, while Harris hopes to make the step up after serving as vice president for the past four years.
Here’s what Australians need to know.
What time is the US election and Australian time?
With the US states located between 15 and 19 hours behind the east coast of Australia, much of the action will take place on Wednesday, November 6.
Voting in eastern US states will close at 6pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, while in Australia it will close from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), on Wednesday.
In Queensland it will be 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. in South Australia and 7:00 a.m. in Western Australia.
By 8:00 pm ET, polls will have completely closed in more than 20 states, including the crucial swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In Australia, this will be Wednesday at noon AEDT, 11am in Queensland, 11.30am in South Africa and 9am in WA.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is running to return to the White House, which he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
Voting in key battleground states Michigan and Wisconsin will close at 9pm US Eastern Time, i.e. 1pm (AEDT), 12pm in Queensland , at 12:30 pm in South Africa and at 10 am in WA.
The last polls in the US close in Hawaii and Alaska at 12am on Wednesday US Eastern Time, which is 4pm (AEDT), 3pm in Queensland, 3,300m in South Africa and the 1pm in WA.
When will we know who has won?
Unless the election is abnormally close, the winner should be evident when polls close in Hawaii and Alaska (4pm AEDT), several hours after vote counting begins in key eastern states.
However, polls predict a close race.
In 2020, the Associated Press did not declare Biden the winner until the next day and in 2016 we had to wait until 2:29 a.m. Eastern Time to declare Trump the winner, which was in the afternoon in Australia (7:30 p.m. AEDT).
How to watch US election coverage in Australia?
All free-to-air television stations will have continuous coverage. Coverage from ABC, Channel 10, Nine and SBS begins at 10am AEDT on Wednesday or shortly after. Channel Seven’s coverage will begin at 11.30am, with Natalie Barr in Washington.
Coverage will continue during the day with breaks for local news bulletins and late-night shows.
The SBS broadcast will include coverage from the American outlet PBS.
Coverage will continue throughout the day, with Australian channels airing local news bulletins and late night shows at different points.
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has spent the last four years serving as Biden’s vice president.
Who will cover online?
Daily Mail Australia will have ongoing coverage. You can find a live blog here.
Where are the electoral surveillance parties?
Election watch parties are being held in major Australian capitals.
Sydney
A ‘Trump Election Watch Party’ will be held at the Sanctuary hotel on Kent Street from 1pm on Wednesday.
Democrats Abroad will hold their party at the Kent Street Hotel from 9.30am on Wednesday.
Melbourne
AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, will hold a viewing party at the Hawthorn Hotel from 2pm on Wednesday. The game will feature a live broadcast of NBC’s election coverage. This is a paid, ticketed event.
Democrats Abroad will hold their party at the Belgrave Hotel starting at 10am on Wednesday.
brisbane
Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic Party, will hold its party at Pig ‘N’ Whistle starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Adelaide
The University of Adelaide’s International Relations and Politics Association will host its party at the Crown and Scepter hotel from 11am (local time) on Wednesday.
Canberra
The Democrats Abroad will hold their party at PJ’s in the city from 10am on Wednesday 6 November.
Perth
The Perth USAsia Center will host its party at the University of Western Australia’s IQX building from 7.30am on Wednesday.
