2020 United States presidential election

The 2020 United States presidential election was the 59th quadrennial U.S. presidential election held on November 3, 2020; it marked the first time in over a century that three consecutive presidents had served two full terms each and thus represented an opportunity for voters to break with tradition and elect a new leader for their country. The result of this race saw Joe Biden become president-elect after he secured 306 electoral votes from battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia against Donald Trump’s 232 electoral votes nationally.

Voting took place both before Election Day (early voting) via mail-in ballots or early polling places due to concerns about coronavirus pandemic safety protocols; some states like Nevada also allowed same day registration at its polls during early voting periods prior to Election Day itself. Voter turnout reached historic levels not seen since 1908 when William Howard Taft won his bid for re-election as President of the United States: In total there were more than 159 million Americans who cast their vote in this cycle – representing 65% eligible voter population participation rate across all 50 US states plus Washington DC – making it one of most widely participated elections ever recorded in American history despite COVID related restrictions put into place by many state governments throughout nation’s capital cities which would normally have encouraged citizens come out en masse support various candidates running office
As results began coming through late hours Nov 4 night onwards they soon revealed Biden had crossed 270 threshold needed win White House while securing larger victory margins traditionally Republican leaning key swing counties including Maricopa county home Phoenix metropolitan area even though overall national popular vote margin between him incumbent President Trump ended up being much narrower then experts predicted going into polling date Despite winning majority elector college seats however Democratic nominee still managed garner more public endorsement nationwide according final data released Dec 14 totaling almost 81 574 616 compared Republicans 74 221 933 showing clear preference among electorate towards change administration four years

This conclusion caused huge backlash political establishment especially within GOP circles where several prominent members like Senator Lindsey Graham South Carolina refused accept outcome citing “irregularities issues” ballot processing while others went far labelling whole process fraudulent without offering concrete evidence sustain claims Nevertheless Electoral College officially certified end December confirming 77 year old former Vice President Barack Obama’s second term Administration will take charge Jan 20 2021 ushering what could be transformational period back American politics