EconoTicker

As Americans head to the polls today to elect their next president, here's what to know about voting and early results:

• Voting kicked off in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, right after midnight, where former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris each received 3 of the town’s 6 votes.
• Polls begin opening as early as 5 a.m. ET in states like Vermont, with Alaska’s polls closing last at 1 a.m. ET on November 6.
• Results are expected to start coming in between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET from states like Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia.
• So far, over 81 million early ballots have been cast across 47 states and Washington, D.C., reflecting strong voter turnout.

Stay tuned as results start rolling in from early-reporting states this evening.

Here’s a summary of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s key statements on the U.S. election results:

• Moscow hopes Americans will overcome societal divisions.
• It suggests the U.S. election winner should prioritize domestic issues over foreign engagements.
• Russia is open to reviewing potential proposals from Washington if there’s a shift in U.S. policy post-election.
• Russia will continue to defend its national interests regardless of the outcome.
• Moscow remains indifferent to the election results, noting bipartisan U.S. support for a stance against Russia.
• These statements highlight Russia’s stance on U.S.-Russia relations amidst the election.

With Election Day hours away, Kamala Harris maintains a slight edge over Donald Trump, according to the latest national PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. The poll shows Harris leading by four points, with 51% of likely voters backing her compared to Trump’s 47%. This lead is just outside the poll’s margin of error of 3.5 points.

Among independent voters, Trump holds a five-point lead, with slightly more than half of independents favoring him. Notably, the gender gap has narrowed significantly in the final month. Trump’s lead among male voters has dropped to just four points, down from a 16-point advantage in October.

Meanwhile, Harris’s lead among female voters has also shrunk. Currently, 55% of women support Harris, a drop from an 18-point lead to an 11-point lead over the past month. This shift indicates a more competitive race heading into Election Day.

As millions prepare to follow U.S. election results on Tuesday, New York Times tech workers—integral to powering the newspaper's election coverage—have gone on strike. This action follows failed contract negotiations with management, with union members now protesting outside the New York Times headquarters.

The Times Tech Guild, representing the newspaper’s technology team, issued a statement describing their role as "the union that powers the technology behind election coverage at the New York Times." The union's members manage crucial elements of the site's election reporting, including the well-known "election needle" that indicates voting trends and push alerts delivering real-time updates.

In response, New York Times executives expressed disappointment. “We are disappointed that the Tech Guild leadership is attempting to jeopardize our journalistic mission at this critical time,” wrote Hannah Yang, Chief Growth and Customer Officer, and Jason Sobel, Chief Technology Officer, in an internal email.

In anticipation of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5, Washington, D.C., is ramping up security measures. Protective fencing is being installed around key locations, including the White House, Capitol, and Vice President Harris’s residence. Nearby businesses—offices, cafes, and shops—are also reinforcing doors and windows in preparation for potential unrest, according to local media reports.

The U.S. Air Force has increased its strategic presence at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base by deploying two additional B-52H bombers, bringing the total to six stationed at the base. This move signals an enhanced U.S. military posture in the region, underscoring a commitment to readiness amid evolving security dynamics.

Unconfirmed footage has emerged reportedly showing the Israeli military conducting operations to destroy tunnels linked to Hamas in a village in Lebanon. The authenticity of the footage has not been verified, and details about the operation remain limited at this time.

The geopolitical landscape may face significant escalation as the U.S. considers lifting restrictions on the types of weapons Ukraine can use, potentially offering Kyiv more latitude in its defense against Russian advances. This shift is in response to reports of approximately 10,000 North Korean troops allegedly in Russia, possibly supporting Russian forces. U.S. officials have warned that, should North Korean forces actively participate, it may lead to intensified support for Ukraine, raising the stakes in the ongoing conflict and escalating international tensions.

A recent poll by the Ukrainian Sociological Platform reveals that nearly 90% of Ukrainians believe corruption has worsened since the onset of the conflict with Russia. Only 2.4% of respondents feel that corruption has decreased. Survey participants identified shopping malls—where many recruitment offices operate—courts, law enforcement agencies, the Verkhovna Rada, customs, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Ministry of Defense as the most corrupt areas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently claimed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) thwarted a Hezbollah plot potentially more dangerous than the October 7 Hamas attack. According to Netanyahu, the plan involved extensive preparations, including tunnels, jeeps, missiles, and rockets intended for an invasion of Israel. In an interview with French broadcasters CNews and Europe 1, he reported that Israeli forces discovered tunnels mere hundreds of meters from the border, suggesting Hezbollah’s intent for a large-scale attack.

A fire has broken out at a U.S. Forces Korea storage facility in Busan, South Korea. Emergency services are responding to the incident, though details regarding the cause, extent of the fire, or potential injuries have not yet been reported. Authorities are working to contain the fire, and further updates are expected as the situation develops. This facility plays a critical role in supporting U.S. military operations in the region.

Ukraine will get $800 million in US military aid to be used to manufacture long-range drones on its soil. The ‘consolation prize’ handout has been confirmed by the Pentagon, The New York Times reported citing sources at the US Department of Defense.

Volodymyr Zelensky boasted of the latest aid handout to reporters on Monday, but may still nurse resentment against his Western sponsors over their rejection of his latest ‘victory plan’

Zelensky failed to sell his strategy – including fast-tracked membership of NATO for Ukraine becoming a member of NATO – to Western leaders on his recent tour. His repeated pleas for approval of long-range missile strikes deep into Russian territory have also fallen on deaf ears.

Russia has repeatedly stressed that Western military aid for NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine will only serve to prolong the crisis, and warned that arms shipments are legitimate military targets.