Here's where the candidates are today

Presidential election results 2020

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 2:44 p.m. ET, November 23, 2020
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12:46 p.m. ET, November 3, 2020

Here's where the candidates are today

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to residents in his old hometown Scranton, Pennsylvania, on November 3.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to residents in his old hometown Scranton, Pennsylvania, on November 3. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden started his day at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. He attended mass at his Catholic church and spent a brief visit to his son Beau Biden's grave site, also visiting the grave site of his late wife and baby daughter. 

From there, Biden traveled to his old hometown Scranton, Pennsylvania. He stopped by his boyhood home, writing on the wall: "From this house to the White House with the Grace of God, Joe Biden November 3rd, 2020."

Biden has just landed in Philadelphia, where he's making a few stops trying to get out the vote. Then he's going to return to Wilmington. He'll be watching the returns from his home and then move to an election center. 

President Trump left the White House a short time ago and arrived at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, according to the press pool traveling with the President.

From the pool:

"The motorcade rolled out of the White House down 17th Street and took I-66 across the river to Arlington, taking the exit for Rosslyn. We passed a large group of Trump supporters as we rolled through the streets. They appear to be waiting outside HQ."

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to spend Election Night at the White House.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny reports from Wilmington, Delaware:

12:34 p.m. ET, November 3, 2020

CNN reporters tell us what races they're watching closely tonight

From CNN's Janelle Davis

As the race for the White House comes to a close, there are several key states that remain a toss-up. CNN’s political correspondents and reporters tell us what races they're watching and why:

CNN Political Correspondent Abby Phillip is watching Arizona:

"This Election Day, I'm looking at the state of Arizona. It is a red state, but this year, it is very much in play. I'm hoping that they're able to count their ballots pretty quickly, so we can have a sense of what's going on in that state. And whether Joe Biden has a shot of flipping a state that Donald Trump won four years ago."

Arizona’s increasingly diverse and suburban electorate has rapidly turned what was once a GOP stronghold into a swing state with 11 electoral votes up for grabs. Polls close in Arizona at 9 p.m. ET.

Read more on Arizona here.

Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash is watching Pennsylvania:

"On Election Day, I'm going to be watching Pennsylvania like a hawk. It's really critical for both candidates in each path to 270 that magic number to get the presidency. And it is so close."

Pennsylvania polls close at 8 p.m. ET. It's the largest electoral vote prize of the "blue wall" states with 20 electoral votes up for grabs, and polls have shown it could be the most competitive. Biden and Trump both barnstormed the state in the race's final days, underscoring its importance.

Read more on Pennsylvania here.

Senior Political Reporter Nia-Malika Henderson is watching Georgia

"The state I'm going to be watching most closely on election night is Georgia. Sixteen electoral votes up for grabs. Two open Senate seats as well. Can a Democrat flip that state in the Sun Belt region. So, my eyes are on the Peach State."

Georgia will be the first true battleground of the night, with 16 electoral votes. It’s poll close at 7 p.m. ET. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio are crucial to the President's narrow path to victory. The Southeastern states are expected to count votes relatively quickly, offering an early window into Trump's chances of winning reelection.

Read more on Georgia here.

12:35 p.m. ET, November 3, 2020

Florida secretary of state says no reported voting security issues

From CNN's Curt Devine

Voters fill out their ballots at a polling place in Miami Beach, Florida, on November 3.
Voters fill out their ballots at a polling place in Miami Beach, Florida, on November 3. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Florida’s Secretary of State Laurel Lee said that no voting security issues have been reported in the state so far Tuesday.  

She said at a news conference there may be isolated precincts in two counties – Lake County, in Central Florida, and Lee County, in Southwest Florida — that had “some technology challenges this morning.” But she said these issues will not prevent any voters from casting ballots. 

She also said that “misinformation and disinformation continues to be an active threat,” though she said no new concerning messages had been reported Tuesday.  

Asked by CNN’s Drew Griffin for examples of misinformation, she referenced the previously reported threatening emails sent to voters that were made to appear as though they were sent by the Proud Boys, a far-right group, though she said Iran was determined to be behind those emails. 

“Our databases are secure,” Lee said. 

At the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida National Guard has been mobilized in the state “out of an abundance of caution,” Lee said.  

12:23 p.m. ET, November 3, 2020

This 22-year-old says police violence against Black people prompted him to vote

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Lewis McCaleb, a 22-year-old first-time voter, speaks with CNN.
Lewis McCaleb, a 22-year-old first-time voter, speaks with CNN. CNN

Lewis McCaleb, a 22-year-old first-time voter in St. Paul, Minnesota, said the death of George Floyd helped spur him to vote this Election Day. 

“I don't feel safe as a Black man living in America. I don't. But I understand the lay of the land. And I understand that a lot of these things are systematically organized. So we must systematically make changes, so that is why I'm going here, I'm exercising my right to vote,” he told CNN correspondent Adrienne Broaddus. 

McCaleb wore a hoodie with the words “We Will Breathe” to his polling location, which he told Broaddus was a form of protest for him. He also wrote the names of Black men and women who have been killed by police on the back of his ballot, Broaddus reported. 

Watch:

12:38 p.m. ET, November 3, 2020

Democratic leaders confident they will pick up House seats tonight

From CNN's Haley Byrd and Manu Raju

Cheri Bustos speaking during a news conference on Election Day. 
Cheri Bustos speaking during a news conference on Election Day.  C-Span

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Cheri Bustos, expressed confidence Democrats will expand their House majority tonight.

On a Zoom conference call with reporters, Bustos said the party is “well-positioned to have a good night.” 

“We have built the foundation to be successful. I believe we will hold onto the majority. I believe we will grow the majority,” she said.

She declined to predict how many seats Democrats will gain. 

“We’re not going to put a number to it,” she said, adding that “you make your own luck going into any election.”

Bustos also said Democratic leaders are preparing for “extended counts and even potential recounts” after Election Day.

“We must hear every voice. We must count every vote. And that is how we safeguard our democracy,” she said.

On the call, Nancy Pelosi reiterated her advice to Democratic voters:

“Be confident, be calm, be patient. Because we are prepared. But do not be celebrating until everyone across the country has a chance to vote,” she said.
"We don’t want to deter any voting because people think the election is over for the president.”
“The stakes of this election are clear. This election is about nothing less than taking back the soul of America. Whether our nation will follow the voices of fear, or whether we will choose hope, liberty, and justice for all,” Pelosi added.

She said she believes Joe Biden will be inaugurated in January. 

“Whoever wins the election will be, and we respect that — the peaceful transfer of power,” Pelosi said.
“We are ready — legally, constitutionally, congressionally in every way — to protect our democracy from any skullduggery the President may try to introduce into this, but be assured that our democracy will survive,” she added.

 Speaker Pelosi holding an Election Day news conference.
 Speaker Pelosi holding an Election Day news conference. C-Span

However, Pelosi refused to answer CNN’s Manu Raju when asked if she would abide by her promise to only serve as speaker through the end of 2022. In order to secure the votes for speaker in 2019, Pelosi promised she would only serve as speaker for this current Congress and the next Congress, which begins in January.

"That's the least important question you could ask today," Pelosi said. “The fate of our nation, the soul of the nation is at stake in this election.”
"One of these days, I will let you know what my plans are when it's appropriate and it matters. It doesn't matter right now,” she added.

11:56 a.m. ET, November 3, 2020

All of Milwaukee's 173 polling places opened successfully, mayor says

From CNN's Casey Tolan

A voter receives his ballot at a polling station inside the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language School on Election Day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 3, 2020.
A voter receives his ballot at a polling station inside the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language School on Election Day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 3, 2020. Bing Guan/Reuters

Officials in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, say they haven’t received any reports about problems so far, either at polling places or at the city’s absentee ballot counting center. 

“No news is good news,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “We’re off to a great start.” 

All of the city’s 173 polling places opened successfully, Barrett added.

At the central count location where volunteers are tallying about 175,000 absentee ballots today, more volunteers showed up than expected, Election Commission executive director Claire Woodall-Vogg said. 

“Poll workers turned out in just phenomenal numbers today so we’re confident our polling places are fully staffed,” she said. 

As of 10 a.m., there have been no disruptions at the central count location and no valid challenges of absentee ballots by election observers or vote-counters, Woodall-Vogg said. 

Barrett noted that the city’s absentee voting numbers “shatters all records” set in previous elections. He reminded Milwaukee voters that they have until 7:30 p.m. to return ballots to the city’s 15 dropboxes and that anyone who is standing in line at the polls at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

11:49 a.m. ET, November 3, 2020

Georgia voter: "I was expecting a long line, but it took me less than 5 minutes"

From CNN’s Drew Kann

"Fulton County Board of Health" masks on a table at a polling location for the 2020 Presidential election in College Park, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. 
"Fulton County Board of Health" masks on a table at a polling location for the 2020 Presidential election in College Park, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.  Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Brandon Davis, a 34-year-old truck driver, had anticipated a long wait when he showed up to cast his ballot this morning at the Sandtown Park Recreation Center west of downtown Atlanta in Fulton County. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised by the experience.  

“It was actually totally not what I expected. I was expecting a long line, but it took me less than 5 minutes,” he said. “That’s what everyone needs to understand too: It might not take you as long as you think it’s going to take.”

Fulton County — Georgia’s largest county, which includes most of the city of Atlanta — has seen some long lines in past elections, including the June primary, when some voters waited eight hours to cast their ballots

For this election, the county greatly expanded the number of early voting locations and increased its capacity to process absentee ballots, in the hopes of cutting down lines on Election Day. 

So far, signs indicate its plan is working: By mid-morning, average wait times across Fulton were under 30 minutes, according to county election officials. 

And even if he had run into a long line, Davis said he was willing to wait it out. 

“Even if I had to sit out here for six hours, it didn’t matter because we need to vote,” he said. “The fact that I was only here maybe five minutes, that’s just the icing on the cake. Now I get to go enjoy my day and go to work later.”

11:28 a.m. ET, November 3, 2020

Pennsylvania official's reminder to voter: "Vote counting is never finished on Election Day"

From CNN's Kelly Mena

Voters wearing protective masks wait in line at a polling location for the 2020 Presidential election in Havertown, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. 
Voters wearing protective masks wait in line at a polling location for the 2020 Presidential election in Havertown, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.  Jennifer Huxta/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar on Tuesday reminded voters to have patience and that not all vote counting is finished on Election Day. 

“Vote counting is never finished on Election Day and if we stop counting ballots on Election Day, we will be disenfranchising all the men and women who serve our country, all the military and civilian overseas voters whose ballots by law must be accepted up to seven days after the election," she said.

“I know that none of us want to disenfranchise all of the military and overseas voters as well as millions of other Pennsylvania voters who have exercised their fundamental right to vote,” she added. 

“We are the only ones that can actually declare results of an election or an election count being over," said Boockvar. “Everyone should have patience.” 

11:34 a.m. ET, November 3, 2020

White House election night party reduced to 250 attendees

From CNN's Jamie Gangel

A vehicle sits outside the White House on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Washington.
A vehicle sits outside the White House on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

The number of people attending today's White House election night party has been reduced to 250, one source familiar tells CNN.

This source added that all guests will receive a rapid test for Covid-19, and each guest will receive a testing bracelet. 

CNN previously reported that as many as 400 people could attend. 

Watch: