Sawt Falasteen - Harris or Trump? First polls close as US nervously awaits result

The outcome-- which could be known overnight but may take days -- will have momentous consequences, either making Harris the first woman in the world's most powerful job or handing a historic comeback to Trump and his right-wing "America First" agenda.

Millions of Americans formed long lines across the country to cast their vote, and polls closed at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday) in the first six states, including crucial Georgia -- one of the battleground states expected to tip the balance in the neck-and-neck race.

There were no initial surprises, with Trump winning Republican stronghold Indiana and Harris taking Vermont.

Several hoax bomb threats were reported at polling stations, causing disruptions to voting, including in Georgia. The FBI and local authorities saying they appeared to originate in Russia.

In a possible preview of election challenges, Trump took to social media to say there is "talk about massive cheating" in Philadelphia, the Democratic stronghold of crucial state Pennsylvania.

City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, a Republican, responded on X that there was "absolutely no truth" to the charge.

Trump also said that "we're going to have a big victory tonight."

Trump has still refused to accept his 2020 loss to Joe Biden, after which his supporters attacked the US Capitol, and there are fears of fresh violence if he loses.

A number of buildings in Washington were boarded up on Tuesday while barriers were erected around the White House.

- 'Full of vengeance' -

Polls for weeks have shown a razor-thin race between Democratic Vice President Harris and Republican Trump, 78, who would be the oldest president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president, and only the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.

All eyes will be on the other swing states, with polls due to close in North Carolina at 7:30 pm, in Pennsylvania -- the biggest prize -- at 8:00 pm, in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin at 9:00 pm and in Nevada at 10:00 pm.

The Harris campaign reported strong turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Philadelphia, including among Puerto Ricans, who were disparaged by a comedian at a Trump rally a week earlier.

An early exit poll by NBC News showed that the most important issue for voters was the fate of US democracy -- a signature issue for Harris -- even more than the economy.

Harris, 60, would also be only the second Black and first person of South Asian descent to be president.

She made a late, dramatic entrance into the race when Biden dropped out in July, while Trump -- twice impeached while president -- has since ridden out two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction.

After crisscrossing the country over the weekend, Harris returned to Washington where she spent the day calling into radio stations in swing states and taking a few calls personally at a phone bank for voters.

"We've got to get it done. Today is voting day, and people need to get out and be active," Harris told Atlanta station WVEE-FM.

She described her opponent as "full of vengeance. He's full of grievance. It's all about himself."

Trump voted in Florida near his Mar-a-Lago residence, saying he felt "very confident" and that he wanted to be "very inclusive."

- Long voter lines -

Casting a ballot in Arizona, Trump backer Camille Kroskey, 62, said she was voting in person due to concerns about voting fraud.

"I want to make sure I drop my ballot where it's going to actually land somewhere," she told AFP. "Now, will it get counted?" she asked. "I don't know."

In Pennsylvania, Harris voter Marchelle Beason, 46, said the lines were "way, way, way more" than in the last election.

At the same school, 56-year-old Darlene Taylor, wearing a homemade Trump shirt, said her main issue is to "close the border."

Trump has vowed an unprecedented deportation campaign of millions of undocumented immigrants, in a campaign full of dark rhetoric.

Harris has hammered home her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans in multiple states -- a vote-winning position with crucial women voters.

The election is meanwhile being watched closely around the world including in the war zones of Ukraine and the Middle East, anxious to see how the next Oval Office occupant deals with the conflicts.

burs-dk/sms

N.AbuHussein--SF-PST