The election campaign for the key locations is being decided

At 7 p.m. EST (midnight GMT), voting will be complete in six states, including Georgia. By 8 p.m., 19 states will have joined them and the election polls will be published. At 9 a.m. polls will close in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan. We should have a much clearer picture by midnight.

Here are the key races that will decide the election:

Arizona (11 votes in the Electoral College)

The formerly heavily Republican state of Arizona turned blue four years ago due to demographic change.

But while Democrats hope abortion will get enough women to vote to keep the state, for Arizona voters concerns about immigration across America's southern border have emerged as a key issue that could help Trump.

A closely contested race between Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake could decide who controls the U.S. Senate.

Latest survey: Trump 49 percent Harris 45 percent according to New York Times/Siena.

Key topics: Immigration and abortion.

Registration times: One hour after the polls close or, if earlier, when all precincts have reported.

In 2020, AP announced the results at 10:02 p.m. EST (3:02 a.m. GMT) on Election Day and declared Joe Biden the winner at 2:51 a.m.

Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)

Georgia (16 electoral college votes)

Since the early days of the United States, Georgia has been a reliable barometer of how the nation will vote.

From the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 to the triumph of Joe Biden in 2020, the winner of Georgia has typically assumed the presidency.

Trump was prosecuted for his attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat in the state. After he asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” 11,780 votes, that would mean he would beat Mr. Biden.

There are concerns among Democrats that the party's support among African-American voters is weakening.

Latest survey: Harris 48 percent, Trump 47 percent according to the New York Times/Siena.

Main topics: The economy and border control.

Registration times: Because the state election board requires both hand and machine counting of votes, it is unclear when the results will be announced. Mr Raffensperger expects to announce the winner by Thursday.

In 2020, AP first reported results for Georgia at 7:20 p.m. ET (12:20 a.m. GMT) on Election Day and declared Mr. Biden the winner at 7:58 p.m. EST on November 19, more than two weeks later.

Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)

Michigan (15 Electoral College votes)

The manufacturing giant helped secure Trump's victory in 2016 and returned to the blue in 2020 when Biden beat his Republican rival by nearly three percentage points.

The state is divided between its Democratic stronghold in Detroit and the rural Republican heartlands.

Early voting data in 2020 showed Democrats well ahead, but the results narrowed as more votes counted. This election is likely to be similar.

Because of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, Michigan could now slip from Democratic control.

With the outcome on a knife's edge, the Harris campaign fears that enough Arab-American and Muslim voters could defect to Green Party candidate Jill Stein to swing the state race in Trump's favor.

They say Ms. Harris' continuation of Biden's Gaza policy represents too much support for Israel.

Latest survey: Harris 47 percent Trump 47 percent according to the New York Times/Siena.

Main topics: Economics, abortion, immigration and the Middle East.

Registration times: State officials expect it will take until Friday to announce the winner.

In 2020, AP first reported results for Michigan on election night at 8:08 p.m. EST (1:08 a.m. GMT) and declared Mr. Biden the winner at 5:58 p.m. the following day.

Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)

Nevada (Six electoral votes)

Although Democrats have won the last three presidential elections in the state, Nevada is considered a political frontrunner.

With Reno and Las Vegas dominating the state's economy, low-paid hotel and restaurant workers could decide the election.

Both Trump and Ms. Harris have promised to stop taxing tips, which make up a significant portion of their income.

Along with abortion, immigration has become a key issue in a state where 19 percent of people were born outside the U.S. and 9 percent of the workforce lacks legal status.

Last poll: Harris 49 percent Trump 46 percent according to New York Times/Siena.

Main topics: Economy, immigration and abortion.

Registration times: Because Nevada accepts absentee ballots mailed by November 3, it may take 10 days for the result to be known.

In 2020, AP first reported results for Nevada on election night at 11:41 p.m. EST (4:41 a.m. GMT) and declared Mr. Biden the winner four days later at 12:13 p.m. EST.

Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Clinton (Democrat) 2020 Biden (Democrat)

North Carolina (16 Electoral College votes)

This “purple” state was the only battleground to turn red in 2020, with Trump winning it by just 74,000 votes.

But Democrats almost passed it because the state's black voters turned against Trump.

Democrats will again rely on high turnout among African-American voters to try to turn the state blue.

The once safe Republican state has emerged as a deciding factor in the election, much to the concern of the Trump campaign.

In the last 50 years, North Carolina has supported a Democratic presidential candidate only twice – Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008.

The Democrats' chances were boosted by the popularity of Roy Cooper, the governor, who was considered as Ms. Harris's running mate before she chose Tim Walz.

The state parliament's decision to ban abortions after 12 weeks is believed to have a significant impact on voters.

If even a small number of voters diverge from Ms. Harris on this issue, Trump will face an uphill battle to retain the state he narrowly won four years ago.

Latest survey: Harris 48 percent Trump 46 percent according to New York Times/Siena.

Main topics: Crime, Social Security (pensions and other benefits), and abortion.

Registration times: Up to 80 percent of votes could be announced shortly after polls close at 7:30 p.m. local time (00:30 GMT). However, it could take another nine days until the postal votes are counted and the results are announced.

In 2020, AP first reported results on Election Day, November 3, at 7:42 p.m. ET (12:42 a.m. GMT) and declared Trump the winner ten days later at 3:49 p.m.

Voting history: 2012 Romney (Republican), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Trump (Republican)

Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes)

Conventional political wisdom in the US says that the road to the White House runs through Pennsylvania.

Trump is hoping his promise to revive the economy will resonate with voters in a Rust Belt state that has suffered greatly from jobs being moved overseas.

Mr. Biden increased it by just one percentage point in 2020, and this time it's up for grabs, which is why both candidates have overwhelmed it with visits.

Some analysts believe Ms. Harris made a costly mistake by not selecting popular Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate.

Abortion is also a key issue that Trump is trying to head off by insisting that reproductive health care laws should be left to individual states.

Latest survey: Harris 48 percent, Trump 48 percent according to the New York Times/Siena.

Main topics: Crime, Social Security (pensions and other benefits), and abortion.

Registration deadlines: Since around half of those eligible to vote vote by postal vote, it will take a long time until the result is available. In the best case scenario, the majority will be counted by Friday, but it could take even longer.

In 2020, the AP first reported the results at 8:09 p.m. ET (1:09 a.m. GMT) on Election Day and declared Mr. Biden the winner at 11:25 a.m. four days later.

Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)

Wisconsin (10 Electoral College votes)

Wisconsin, once a safe Republican state, trended Democratic in 2012 and the presidential election has been tough since then.

Four years ago, Mr. Biden won the state by 0.7 percent.

Social Security has become a major issue in Wisconsin. Democrats accuse Republicans of wanting to cut services like Medicare, the subsidized health care program for older Americans.

As in many other states, abortion is high on voters' list of priorities.

But it is crime and gun crime that are of great concern, with Milwaukee considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Latest survey: Harris 49 percent, Trump 47 percent.

Main topics: Social Security (pensions and other benefits), crime, guns and abortion.

Registration times: Although postal votes are not counted until election day, the result should be known on election evening or the following day.

In 2020, the AP first reported results for Wisconsin at 9:07 p.m. ET (2:07 a.m. GMT) on Election Day and declared Mr. Biden the winner at 2:16 p.m. the following day.

Voting history: 2012 Obama (Democrat), 2016 Trump (Republican) 2020 Biden (Democrat)