What exit polls say about how people voted in the U.S. ?

Donald Trump has won victory in the race for the presidency of the United States, gaining a historic second term. He passed the critical threshold of 270 electoral college votes with a projected win in the state of Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the Republicans are also set to take control of the Senate.

The US exit polls help build a picture of how different groups of people have voted across the nation. Exit poll data is updated throughout the night. The latest numbers suggest that women broke for Kamala Harris but perhaps not by the margins her campaign had hoped, at 54% compared with 44% for Donald Trump.

Notably, Hispanic/Latino voters show a nuanced trend: Harris leads with 53% of Hispanic/Latino voters overall, yet Trump’s support has surged by more than 10 points among this group compared to 2020. Among Latino men specifically, Trump’s support has jumped by 18 points. This shift could indicate that some Hispanic voters are drawn to Trump’s stance on issues like the economy and law enforcement, aligning with his strong, often nationalistic messaging.

Let's Explore Michigan for instance:

The latest exit polls reveal that while a majority of young voters nationwide supported Kamala Harris, the Democrats saw a notable decline in support from 18- to 29-year-olds in the critical battleground state of Michigan.

In 2020, 61% of this age group voted for Joe Biden, but in this election, only 46% reported voting for Harris.

Additionally, the data shows a significant education divide: nearly six in ten college-educated voters supported Harris, whereas a similar proportion of voters without a college degree cast their ballots for Trump.

Which states determined the presidency ?

Electoral College Requirement: A candidate needs at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency.

State-by-State Allocation: Electoral votes are assigned based on each state's population, and most states award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote.

Source: NEP/Edison via Reuters, Updated 10:39 GMT(05:39 EST)

Shifting Battlegrounds:

1. Pennsylvania: A crucial swing state, Pennsylvania flipped this year, with Donald Trump winning it after it backed Joe Biden in 2020. Notably, Elon Musk's recent appearances the Butler, Pa rally in the state was seen as beneficial for Trump, as his endorsement and influence helped rally support among certain voter groups.

2. Georgia: Another battleground state that supported Biden in 2020, Georgia leaned towards Trump this year, marking a significant shift.

3. Wisconsin: Like Georgia, Wisconsin also shifted from Biden in 2020 to Trump this year, further altering the election dynamics.

With a win in Wisconsin, Donald Trump had this in the bag.