New Delhi:
The race to become Barack Obama successor is in its full swing, and both the presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are up in arms to become the 45th President of the United States.
In the buildup to the election, the two candidates have locked horns in three television debates with controversies are piling up against both the White House hopefuls .
While former secretary of state and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is said to be leading the exit polls tally, accusation of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations into emails allegedly linked to her use of a private server have dented her images.
On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has found himself entangled in the allegations of sexual misconduct.
As the world goes tizzy, here is all about the US presidential polls.
Know the parties and their agenda
Republicans
Also known as America's right-wing party or GOP - or Grand Old Party, Republicans' agenda focusses on laws like anti-gun control, anti-immigration, anti-abortion and anti-universal healthcare. Republicans press for individual liberty and small government.
The Democrats
Democractic are US’s left-leaning party. The party focusses on using taxation to pay for bigger government projects and welfare schemes. Pro-gun control, pro-choice and pro-universal healthcare, are the main areas on Democratic focus.
Election process through Electoral College
The 50 states of the US have a defined number of ‘electors’ in the electoral college. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors that include 435 representatives, 3 electors (given to the state of Columbia) and 100 senators. To win a majority, a candidate needs to collect at least 270 electors, which essentially means half the total number plus one.
Important timings for India
The voting is expected to open between 6am to 7am and close at around 7pm to 8pm (US time) on Tuesday, November 8 in most of the areas. It may continue till 9pm in Iowa and North Dakota.
The polling will start at 8pm (New York Time) on November, 8 or 5:30am (India time) on 9 November on Wednesday.
In San Francisco it will start at 8pm time on November 8, Tuesday or 8:30am IST on 9 November.
When will the next US president be announced?
The winner will be announced on January 2, 2017, after the counting of the Electoral College. The new president will assume the role of US commander-in-chief will move to White House on January 20, 2017.
