Highlights of the final month before US Election Day

Both candidates are currently busy traveling to battleground states to convince voters to vote for them while preparations for Election Day in the states have also been deployed.

Early voting and mail-in voting are already underway in many parts of the country, although early voting is not expected to reach the levels seen in the 2020 election, which was marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Former President Donald Trump, for his part, remains skeptical of mail-in voting, but Republicans are embracing the practice in key states this year to keep up with Democrats’ lead.

Trump’s campaign strategy is also different this year. Instead of knocking on doors in key states, Trump’s allies are using funding from tech billionaire Elon Musk to do some unconventional things.

According to CNN, the Trump team’s strategy this time is to target infrequent voters, teach supporters how to monitor polling stations and hit states with voting-related lawsuits. The Republican candidate’s campaign admits it’s a gamble, but they insist it’s built on data they’ve been collecting for nearly a decade and carefully testing over the past six months.

Voice of the famous

In the final month of the race, prominent political figures like former President Barack Obama will join the campaign to rally voters for Vice President Kamala Harris. According to a CNN article, Obama plans a 27-day campaign for Harris, appearing at events and lending his name to emails and fundraising materials.

Meanwhile, some Republicans who are disaffected with Mr. Trump, such as former congresswoman Liz Cheney, will also campaign for Ms. Harris and try to attract moderates, independents and even Republicans who want change.

For Mr. Trump, the former US President will receive strong support from the world's richest man, Elon Musk. At an event to meet supporters in Pennsylvania - where Mr. Trump was nearly assassinated in July, billionaire Musk appeared on stage and called on voters to go to the polls.

But there are few prominent Republicans on whom Mr Trump can turn. While former Republican President George W. Bush is not a strong supporter, Vice President Dick Cheney has said he will vote for Ms Harris.

How will Hurricane Helene affect voting?

North Carolina and Georgia are both important electoral states located in the disaster area caused by Hurricane Helene.

Rescue workers are still searching for the missing, especially in rural North Carolina, which is isolated and cut off from aid. As the disaster unfolds, campaigns will have to consider whether the deaths, lost homes and damaged roads will affect voter turnout.

Does the world situation hurt Harris' appeal?

Democrats are struggling to overcome their own divisions over the situation in the Middle East. While progressives want the U.S. to do more for the Palestinians, Harris has struggled to balance her support for Israel with recognition of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Currently, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has spread to Lebanon and there are even signs of fire from Iran.

It is unclear how the escalating regional war in the Middle East will affect the US election, but a simmering split within the Democratic Party could become a problem for the party, especially in the crucial state of Michigan.

Legal battles against Mr. Trump

There will apparently be no federal trial for Trump on 2020 election interference charges before Election Day. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any developments in the much-delayed case.

The case file prepared by special counsel Jack Smith was recently made public by Judge Tanya Chutkan. The report contains many new details that are believed to have the potential to change voters' minds about who to vote for.

What Happens After Election Day

The counting of mail-in ballots and the possibility of recounts in key states means the US still may not know who won the election shortly after polls close on November 5.

Regardless of what happens in 2024, Mr. Trump is unlikely to accept the results if Ms. Harris wins. His allies are preparing for a legal battle after Election Day to contest the vote and potentially certify the election results, which must be completed by Dec. 11, when voters gather in state capitals and formally cast their electoral votes on Dec. 17.

The electoral votes will be counted in Congress, presided over by Vice President Harris, on January 6, 2025. The new president will be sworn in on January 20, 2025.