Republican Donald Trump will face Democrat Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections to be held on Tuesday, November 5, US time.
Trump will look to return to the White House after becoming president for one term and losing to Joe Biden in 2020, while Harris hopes to step up after serving as vice president for the past four years.
Here’s what Australians need to know.
What time is the US election time in Australia?
Because the US states are 15 to 19 hours behind the east coast of Australia, much of the action will take place on Wednesday, November 6.
Voting closes in the eastern US states on Tuesday at 6pm US Eastern Time, in Australia on Wednesday at 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
In Queensland it is 9am, in South Australia it is 9.30am and in Western Australia it is 7am.
At 8 p.m., US Eastern Time polling places will be completely closed in more than twenty states, including the crucial swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In Australia this will be no later than Wednesday afternoon AEDT, 11am in Queensland, 11.30am in SA and 9am in WA.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is running to return to the White House, which he lost to Joe Biden in 2020
Voting in the key battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin closes at 9pm US Eastern Time, which means 1pm (AEDT), 12pm in Queensland, 12.30pm in South Africa and 10am WA.
The last US polls close in Hawaii and Alaska at 12pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, which is 4pm (AEDT), 3pm in Queensland, 3,300m in South Africa and 1pm in WA.
When will we know who won?
Unless the election is abnormally close, the winner should be clear by the time polls close in Hawaii and Alaska (4pm, AEDT), which is several hours after vote counting begins in key eastern states.
However, polls predict a tight race.
In 2020, the Associated Press did not declare Biden the winner until the next day and in 2016 it took until 2:29 a.m. US Eastern Time to declare Trump the winner, which was in the evening in Australia (7:30 p.m. AEDT).
How to watch US election coverage in Australia?
All free-to-air TV stations will have continuous coverage. Coverage from ABC, Channel 10, Nine and SBS all starts at or shortly after 10am AEDT on Wednesday. Channel Seven’s coverage starts at 11.30am, with Natalie Barr in Washington.
Coverage will continue throughout the day with breaks for local news bulletins and evening programs.
The SBS broadcast includes coverage from the American PBS.
Coverage will continue throughout the day, with Australian channels covering local news bulletins and evening programs at various points.
Democrat candidate Kamala Harris served as Biden’s vice president for the past four years
Who will cover online?
Daily Mail Australia has continuous coverage. You can find a live blog here.
Where are election observation parties?
Election observation parties are taking place in major Australian capitals.
Sydney
A ‘Trump Election Watch Party’ will be held at the Sanctuary hotel on Kent Street on Wednesday from 1pm.
Democrats Abroad will hold its party at the Kent Street hotel on Wednesday from 9.30am.
Melbourne
AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, will hold a watch party at the Hawthorn hotel on Wednesday from 2 p.m. The party will include a live broadcast of NBC’s election coverage. This is a paid event with ticket sales.
Democrats Abroad will hold its party at the Belgrave hotel on Wednesday from 10am.
Brisbane
Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic party, will hold its party at the Pig ‘N’ Whistle on Wednesday from 10 a.m.
Adelaide
The University of Adelaide’s Politics and International Relations Association will hold its party at the Crown and Scepter hotel from 11am (local time) on Wednesday.
Canberra
Democrats Abroad is holding its party on Wednesday, November 6 from 10am at PJ’s in the City.
Perth
Perth USAsia Center will hold its celebration at the University of Western Australia’s IQX Building from 7.30am on Wednesday.