Summary

Media caption,

A rare look at the pure joy supporters on both sides feel

  1. Why Trump and Harris are focussing on Arizona and Nevadapublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Turning focus back now to the campaigns, as both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will be campaigning in Arizona and Nevada.

    The bordering states in the south west both have a large Hispanic population - 31% in Arizona and 30% in Nevada.

    Since Sunday, after controversy following a Trump rally where a comedian called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage", both campaigns have trying to win the votes of the Latino and Hispanic communities.

    Harris will appear in Phoenix, Reno and Las Vegas, whilst Trump goes to Henderson and Glendale.

    Harris' events will include performances from Latino artists including Jennifer Lopez, Los Tigres del Norte and Mana, while Trump will be joined by commentator Tucker Carlson.

  2. Elon Musk ignores legal drama and continues his $1m giveawaypublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Elon Musk announced the latest winner in his $1m giveaway on X this morning, roughly the same time he was due to appear in court over the giveaway's legality.

    "Congratulations, Joshua of North Carolina", Musk posted, external, attaching a video of a husband and wife and their baby on a sofa with a giant check for $1m.

    It's just one of over a dozen tweets and re-tweets Musk has fired off this morning while skipping court.

    Others include a video of one of his SpaceX rockets launching into orbit, a collage of photos of Donald Trump - one of which was the former president sitting in a dump truck - and a message from Trump's running mate, JD Vance, talking about voter fraud.

  3. Musk didn't show after trying to get giveaway case moved to federal court - Philadelphia prosecutorspublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    John Summers (R) and Larry Krasner (C)Image source, Reuters

    More now from Philadelphia, where Elon Musk was expected to turn up at court this morning.

    As a reminder, Larry Kranser, the district attorney of Philadelphia, filed a lawsuit earlier this week against Musk over his million-dollar cash giveaway to registered voters in key swing states.

    John Summers, a lawyer working with Krasner, says Musk "didn't show" in court this morning. He says the billionaire and his team on Wednesday "filed legal papers to have the case removed from this court to federal court".

    "We will proceed to federal court and we will address the issues there and seek to have the matter remanded back to the state court," Summers adds.

    "After all, this is a case that involves state law issues."

  4. Musk fails to appear at courthouse for hearing over money giveawayspublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Elon Musk has not shown up to a Philadelphia court, according to the BBC's US news partner CBS, for a hearing over the billionaire's cash giveaways to registered voters.

    He had been ordered to attend in person.

    Musk's failure to appear could put the Trump-backing SpaceX and Tesla owner at risk of being held in contempt of court.

    We'll bring you more updates from inside the courtroom as we get them, so stick with us.

  5. Court fills up ahead of Elon Musk hearing - but he is nowhere to be seenpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Cameramen outside court as a person walks past with boxesImage source, Reuters

    We've been watching the arrivals at a Philadelphia court, ahead of a hearing over Elon Musk's cash giveaways to registered voters, which was scheduled for 10 am ET (1400 GMT).

    District Attorney Larry Krasner, who filed a lawsuit against the billionaire earlier this week, arrived a short while ago.

    SpaceX and Tesla owner Musk has been ordered to attend in person, but so far we have not seen him show up.

    There won't be cameras in court, but we'll keep you posted with what happens next, whether or not Musk appears.

  6. What is Musk's cash giveaway ?published at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New YorkImage source, Reuters

    Elon Musk and his campaign group America PAC said in October that he would give away $1 million (£766,000) to a registered voter in key swing states every day until the US election on 5 November.

    To be eligible to win, registered voters have to sign a petition in favour of "free speech and the right to bear arms".

    Each day, one person is selected at random for the $1 million prize.

    The contest is open to voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina, all key battleground states which will ultimately decide the election.

    Musk is a keen supporter of Republican nominee Donald Trump's bid to return to the White House.

  7. Elon Musk ordered to court today over million dollar cash giveawaypublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Trump-backer Musk has spoken at several Trump ralliesImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Trump-backer Musk has spoken at several Trump rallies

    The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has been ordered to attended a court hearing today over his million-dollar cash giveaway to registered voters in key swing states.

    Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed the lawsuit earlier this week.

    The BBC's US partner CBS News says the hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT), according to a court document.

    Trump supporter Musk announced in October that he would randomly award a $1m prize to registered voters who sign a petition in battleground states every day until the election. The awards would come through his political group, America PAC.

    But Krasner's lawsuit says the scheme is an illegal lottery and an attempt to influence voters, and that it must be stopped.

    In a statement, Krasner said the move was about "protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries" and "protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections".

  8. With five days to go, catch up on four key headlinespublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    The countdown is well and truly on, with just five days to go before the US election day.

    Before Trump and Harris get back on the campaign trail today, here's a quick refresh of the events you might have missed on Wednesday or during the US overnight hours:

    • Both candidates were in Wisconsin on Wednesday - one of seven swing states. Trump told a rally held near Green Bay he wanted to protect women "whether the women like it or not" from "missiles" and "migrants"
    • He wore a high-visibility vest garbage collectors in the US wear. It followed President Joe Biden appearing to call his supporters "garbage" a day earlier. Biden says he was referring to Tony Hinchcliffe after the comedian labelled US territory Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" at a Trump rally
    • For the Democrats, Harris sought out the youth vote, also in Wisconsin - telling first-time voters "I love your generation, I just love you guys"
    • Elsewhere, authorities in Clark Country, Washington, said they have managed to salvage hundreds of ballots that were damaged when an incendiary device was placed in a ballot box on Monday. Another ballot box was set alight in Portland, Oregon. Both attacks are being investigated by the FBI
  9. At home with first-time Democratic voters in Philadelphiapublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Banner reading 'Americast' accompanied by flag

    The 2024 presidential election could hinge on the state of Pennsylvania, with polls currently indicating that the crucial swing state is locked in a dead heat.

    On the next stage of Americast's pop-up podcast studio, Justin and Marianna travel to Philadelphia to speak to three first-time Democratic voters who are planning to vote for Kamala Harris.

    Sitting down in a family home, we chat to them about their reaction to Joe Biden’s intervention in the campaign, whether they’d consider voting for a third-party and what they believe Harris needs to do between now and November 5.

    Listen to that episode.

  10. Where do Trump and Harris stand on abortion?published at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    We've been reporting on how each candidate's stance on abortion has influenced the voting intention of registered voters.

    Here's a quick reminder on what each presidential hopeful has said on the issue:

    Kamala Harris is advocating for legislation that would safeguard reproductive rights nationwide.

    Harris has made abortion central to her campaign - she was the first vice-president to visit an abortion clinic.

    “When Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will sign it into law,” she said at a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia.

    DonaldTrump has said he would not sign a national abortion ban into law.

    Trump has regularly said that states should be free to decide their own laws on abortion.

    He has criticised Florida’s ban on abortions after six-weeks but also said he would oppose a ballot measure in the state establishing the right to an abortion.

    You can read more on Trump's views on key issues as well as Harris' stance on 10 key issues.

  11. Why is abortion such a big talking point in this election?published at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Antiabortion and abortion rights advocates gather outside of the Supreme Court holding various signsImage source, Getty Images

    In this election, tens of millions of voters will also be deciding on abortion laws across ten states.

    This comes in response to the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 which overturned the decades-old Roe v Wade - rescinding the constitutional right to an abortion.

    Since then, the access to the procedure has varied across states, some with an almost complete ban.

    Abortion has thus become a huge talking point in this election as a topic that is dividing voters.

    Harris is strongly pro-choice and has made it a key part of her campaign.

    During his presidency, Trump appointed the Supreme Court judges whose votes ultimately overturned Roe v Wade. He says abortion policy should be left to the states to decide.

    However, his wife Melania, recently came out with a video backing abortion rights.

    Get up to speed on the ten US states facing abortion on the ballot in November.

  12. BBC speaks with women on how abortion shaped their votepublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Rachel Looker

    Graphic with the faces of four women voters

    The gender divide has been prominent in this election, with polls suggesting Kamala Harris has an advantage among women and former President Donald Trump is enjoying a similar lead among men.

    The BBC has been speaking to women about how they are considering gender and abortion as they cast their ballots in the final days of the campaign.

    Texas-based nurse practitioner Tracey Sorrell backed Trump at the last election and plans to do so again.

    "On abortion, [Harris] is not giving a gestational parameter of how late somebody can get an abortion. That cannot be-open ended. I was a NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] nurse for 17 years... I care about women's rights. I care about women. The mother is the first patient," she says.

    Meanwhile Susana Rodriguez voted for Biden in the last election and has now voted early in support of Harris.

    She describes being "scared" at the prospect of going backwards: "I had more rights than my granddaughter is going to have in her future and that's not right."

    Read more about thoughts on the issue and how individuals plan to vote.

  13. Watch: Trump pledges to protect women whether they 'like it or not'published at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    This is the moment Donald Trump told a rally in Wisconsin he wanted to protect women "whether the women like it or not" from "missiles" and "migrants".

    Kamala Harris responded with a post on X, external saying "Donald Trump thinks he should get to make decisions about what you do with your body. Whether you like it or not."

  14. Coming up on the campaign trail today...published at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    At 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT), Kamala Harris makes her first scheduled stop of the day at a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona. We expect Latin band Los Tigres del Norte to join her onstage there. She then heads to Reno, Nevada.

    Then, at 20:00 ET (00:00 GMT), Harris is due to hold a major campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she will be joined by Maná and Jennifer Lopez.

    Donald Trump is set to begin his day with a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 14:00 ET (18:00 GMT), before heading to another in Henderson, Nevada.

    He then travels to Glendale, Arizona, where he will appear at the finale of political commentator Tucker Carlson's tour at 22:00 ET (02:00 GMT).

    Both vice presidential candidates are also out today. JD Vance will speak at High Point University in North Carolina at 10:30 ET (14:30 GMT), whilst Tim Walz will deliver remarks in Pennsylvania's Bucks County at 11:00 ET (3:00 GMT). Walz will then head to Erie, Pennsylvania in the afternoon.

    Stay with us for the latest updates from today's campaign trail.

  15. Watch: Biden playfully bites baby at Halloween eventpublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    US President Joe Biden hosted a Halloween celebration at the White House on Wednesday where he and his wife Jill handed out sweets and books to children.

    He was caught on video nibbling at the legs of a baby in dressed up as a chicken.

    Media caption,

    Joe Biden plays with a baby dressed up for Halloween

  16. Six things to watch for in final five dayspublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from Washington

    • Harris to push abortion rights: Kamala Harris and her political allies are likely to push the Democratic message on abortion. They believe it is resonating with large swathes of female voters in the US.
    • Trump to focus on the border: The Trump campaign is likely to focus on the US-Mexico border and perceptions of "migrant crime".
    • The economy battle: This a primary motivator for a majority of voters and both campaigns are likely to make last ditch efforts to convince voters that they can improve the US economy going forward.
    • Late surprises: No one predicted two comments involving the word "garbage" would dominate the election for a few days. We'll be keeping an eye out for any last minute surprises that could sway undecided voters.
    • Election security: Ballot boxes have been burned in Oregon and Washington. While these incidents have been rare, we'll be looking out for any others that could change perceptions of election integrity.
    • Turnout: We'll be monitoring early turnout data to see what - if anything - it can reveal about voter participation in this election.
  17. Both candidates were in Wisconsin yesterday - here's whypublished at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    An image of a blue and red-tinted Wisconsin postage stamp over a purple background with white stars and blue and red stripes. The stamp features a farm with cows in a pasture with an inscription that reads 'Greetings from Wisconsin

    As we've been reporting, both Trump and Harris made separate appearances in the state of Wisconsin yesterday evening - just days before election day.

    Wisconsin is one of seven key battleground statesthat both candidates are devoting a lot of time, money, and attention to.

    Like Pennsylvania and Michigan, it is a so-called blue wall state that reliably voted Democrat in presidential elections for decades.

    That all changed in 2016, when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in all three, winning 44 electoral college votes - and ultimately the White House.

    In 2020, Joe Biden flipped them back, a hattrick of wins that was key to his victory.

    For Harris, these states provide one of her clearest paths to securing the 270 electoral college votes needed to clinch the presidency.

    The last two races have come down to razor thin margins in Wisconsin:

    • Trump beat Clinton 47.8% to 47% in 2016
    • Biden beat Trump 49.6% to 48.9% in 2020

    During this election cycle, the polling has mostly remained within a few percentage points, well within the margin of error.

    That suggests Wisconsin is poised to deliver another nail-biting finish.

    You can read more about what factors could be decisive in the Midwestern swing state.

  18. 'Whether the women like it or not I'm going to protect them' - Trumppublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Former US President and Republican Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump speaks during a campaign event at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USAImage source, EPA

    Donald Trump told a rally last night that "whether the women like it or not I'm going to protect them. I'm going to protect them from migrants coming in. I'm going to protect them from foreign countries that want to hit us with missiles."

    Speaking to the crowds near Green Bay, Wisconsin, Trump told supporters that his advisers had told him it was “inappropriate" to talk about protecting women.

    Kamala Harris responded on X , externalthat “Donald Trump thinks he should get to make decisions about what you do with your body. Whether you like it or not.”

    In the polls, Donald Trump enjoys a huge lead among men, while women say they prefer Kamala Harris by a similarly large margin.

  19. The thought of Harris winning 'brings tears to my eyes'published at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Rachel Looker

    A graphic that reads "Voter Voices"
    Graphic with photo of Feana Nevel

    Feana Nevel is a Democrat from Illinois who plans to vote for Harris on election day. She previously backed the Democratic ticket in 2020, voting for Joe Biden.

    I am definitely concerned about the direction that reproductive rights are going in parts of the country. I feel that Trump's attempts to communicate that he understands why [reproductive rights] are an important issue to women has fallen woefully short.

    I think Harris has an innate understanding of its importance, just being a woman and a woman of colour. Would I like her to lay out her plans a little bit more to potentially expand reproductive rights? Absolutely. But Trump has set the bar so low that she could really continue to not even mention it and she would still be doing a better job.

    [A Harris presidency] brings tears to my eyes just to think about. I have a nine-year-old daughter and she's old enough to start having aspirations and to start paying attention to the world around her.

    Are you an American voter? Apply to be featured in future BBC stories.

  20. 'I'm concerned about women's rights'published at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October

    Rachel Looker

    Graphic that reads "voter voices"
    Graphic with photo of Michelle Allen

    In the lead-up to election day, BBC Voter Voices is hearing from Americans around the country about what matters to them.

    Michelle Allen works as a quality engineer in Arizona. The 38-year-old is a registered Republican, but plans on voting for Kamala Harris.

    I'm concerned about women's rights and healthcare. I'm not a one-issue voter, but that is a huge one. I work in the medical sector and I was personally very affected by the overturning of Roe v Wade because I wasn't able to get access to a lot of the drugs I needed. Nobody was sure of what the legality was... even though they're used for other things.

    The whole Republican stance is smaller government and don't let government make my personal decisions - so why are they trying to legislate what a woman can do with her body?

    [A Harris presidency] would mean that all the things that my parents told me when I was younger were true - that just because you're a girl doesn't mean that you are limited.

    Are you an American voter? Apply to be featured in future BBC stories.