Swing states emerge as a key battleground in us elections

Both leading American parties have their geographical strongholds - states that have predominantly voted for one candidate for years. These states are referred to as safe states.

The division of the American electoral map into red (Republican) and blue (Democratic) states has evolved over the years. However, there are places where political preferences have not changed since the Civil War in the 19th century. During that time, thirteen American states were divided into the North and South. Residents of these areas differed in their views on various issues, including the economy and slavery.

Contemporary blue states are concentrated on the West Coast and in the northern part of the East Coast. Typically, Democratic states include New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Illinois, Minnesota, and Hawaii. The centre of the country, considered more provincial, is red, meaning residents of these states usually vote for Republican candidates. Political scientists also point to geographical criteria - Republicans tend to be popular in the Great Plains, typically mountainous states, and in the South, such as Idaho, Wyoming, both Dakotas, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alaska, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia.

The fiercest electoral battle is fought over swing states, where voters have supported different candidates over the years, deciding the outcome. The American electoral system is considered somewhat convoluted. Candidates are selected in primaries, held at different times in different states. Americans vote indirectly — the votes cast by citizens in the popular vote are converted into electoral votes for each state (each state has its number of electoral votes proportional to its size and population).

This results in 538 United States Electoral College members who will choose the President and Vice President. In 48 states and the District of Columbia (the exceptions are Nebraska and Maine), the popular vote winner receives all that state's electoral votes. A margin of even one vote is enough. This principle is called "the winner takes it all." The complexity of this system lies in the fact that one of the candidates can receive more direct votes but fewer electoral votes and consequently lose the election.

This year, candidates are particularly vying for support from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In recent polls, the candidates enjoyed comparable support here. Pennsylvania seems particularly attractive, as it has as many as 19 electoral votes. In the remaining 43 states, the fate of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris seems settled. At least, that's what history suggests; history likes to play tricks, just like demographics.