This has been a most unusual election season. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the presidential race in a motley of ways and led to early votes being cast by 100 million people before Election Day. The shock of Donald Trump ’s surprise win over Secretary Hillary Clinton in 2016 hangs over the 2020 vote as racial divisions and pandemic-related economic shutdowns continue to plague society. As tension and anticipation build up with tens of millions of people voting on Election Day, several “battleground states” remain key as both President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden compete to rack up 270 Electoral College votes and win the election. As results start to pour in Tuesday night, here’s a quick guide to the eight states to watch closely and why they’re so important.
