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Washington Election Officials Process Early Voting Ballots
Washington Election Officials Process Early Voting Ballots

The 7 states that will decide the 2024 election

What matters most to voters in the battleground states.

Image: A poll worker holds “I Voted” stickers during the first day of early voting at a polling station in Wilmington, North Carolina, US, on October 17, 2024.

In the seven weeks ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the Today, Explained podcast has been examining the major themes and policies impacting voters this year. We’ve been telling the story of the Donald Trump-Kamala Harris presidential matchup through each of the hard-fought swing states. There are seven battleground states, dotted throughout the country, and they each speak to major issues, themes, and demographic groups that will decide the 2024 election. Our hosts, producers, and reporters have been talking to voters in each of them: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan.

The voters who could decide the 2024 election in Michigan

Arab American support for third parties could decide Michigan — and the presidency.


Why Trump and Republicans think they have a chance in Nevada

Nevada has voted blue since 2008. Will that change this year?


How Hurricane Helene scrambled the election in North Carolina

Will storm damage depress turnout in a key battleground state?


Why Wisconsin Democrats are campaigning in places they can’t win

Both the Trump and Harris campaigns need to court and win rural voters to take Wisconsin, a traditionally Democratic-leaning state that Trump won in 2016.


Will abortion rights help turn out voters in Arizona?

Arizona’s ballot will include a constitutional amendment on the right to abortion up until fetal viability. Both the Trump and Harris campaigns are hoping that gives them an edge with women voters.


The strategy that might decide Pennsylvania — and the election

Victory in Pennsylvania might be all about losing by less in the other party’s strongholds.


Can Georgia’s MAGA election board actually rig the vote for Trump?

The Georgia state election board’s 11th-hour rule changes, explained.

Credits

Executive Producer: Miranda Kennedy

Hosts: Noel King and Sean Rameswaram

Editors: Amina al-Sadi and Matt Collette

Producers: Hady Mawajdeh, Miles Bryan, Victoria Chamberlin, Avishay Artsy, Amanda Lewellyn, and Peter Balonon-Rosen

Engineers: Patrick Boyd, Rob Byers, and Andrea Kristinsdottir

Senior researcher: Laura Bullard

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