President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Source: President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

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'Let's give each other a chance': US president-elect Joe Biden calls for unity in moving victory speech

Follow the SBS News live blog for the major updates from the 2020 United States presidential election.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Source: President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, alongside vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

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Let's hear from the candidates
Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been posting on Twitter recently, let's take a look at what they have to say as counting continues...

The President has continued his quest to cast concerns over the legitimacy of the election, repeating his, as yet unverified, claims that Republican observers have been barred from properly viewing the ballots in some key states.

"The damage has already been done to the integrity of our system, and to the Presidential Election itself," he said. This comes less that 24 hours after Mr Trump falsely claimed to have won the election, claiming a number of states where counting hadn't concluded as his own.

Mr Biden, on the other hand, expressed confidence in his election chances.

"Keep faith in the process and in each other. Together, we will win this," he said, with just four battleground states yet to be decided. The Democratic challenger requires just six more electoral votes to take the presidency - a far easier path than the one facing Mr Trump.


Earlier, Mr Biden said his victory would not be his but a "victory for democracy".

#BuildBackBetter: Biden-Harris campaign launch transition website
In what could be read as a sign of confidence from the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaign, the pair have launched their transition website under the URL buildbackbetter.com.

The Biden-Harris transition website.
The Biden-Harris transition website. Source: Supplied


The website reads:

"The American people will determine who will serve as the next President of the United States. Votes are still being counted in several states around the country. The crises facing the country are severe — from a pandemic to an economic recession, climate change to racial injustice — and the transition team will continue preparing at full speed so that the Biden‑Harris Administration can hit the ground running on Day One."

Joe Hockey says electoral fraud happened in the US 'for sure'
Joe Hockey, former Australian Ambassador to the US, says it is likely Joe Biden will named president but added that electoral fraud had taken place "for sure".

But it was unlikely to change the outcome of the election, he told 2GB radio from Washington, adding that Donald Trump was unlikely to go quietly if the votes fall in Mr Biden's favour.

Ambassador Joe Hockey delivered a frank assessment of the United States economy in a major speech.
Former Australian ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey. Source: AAP


"There's going to be a lot of court action to go," he told host Ben Fordham. "However, I would much rather be in Joe Biden's shoes than Donald Trump's".

“[Trump] hates losing, he doesn’t accept when he’s losing, and he usually reverts to litigation," he continued.

“There’s plenty of good reason to have litigation, I mean it is a complete dog’s breakfast right across the country.”

The Trump campaign has so far contested the result in Wisconsin and launched legal bids to stall counting in Michigan and Pennsylvania. 

'Sharpiegate' misinformation fuels unproven claims of voter fraud in Arizona
Unsubstantiated claims alleging some votes cast for President Donald Trump were not counted in Maricopa County, Arizona - an important battleground - because voters used Sharpie pens have spread among right-wing social media accounts.

Dubbed “Sharpiegate” by conservatives on social media, the allegations could be used to try to undermine election results in the historically Republican state of Arizona, which the AP called for Joe Biden with 51 per cent of the vote.

Maricopa County elections officials and observers watch as ballots are tallied.
Maricopa County elections officials and observers watch as ballots are tallied. Source: AP


Similar rumors about Sharpies or other writing tools and ballots have circulated in Chicago, Michigan, Massachusetts and Connecticut in recent days.

Maricopa County officials tried to inform voters that Sharpies did not interfere with ballots, posting a video on election day clarifying that Sharpies would not interfere with ballots.

Vote totals are expected out of Arizona at about 1:00pm (AEST).


Reuters


AP calls Michigan for Joe Biden
Joe Biden now only needs six electoral college votes, or one more state, to take the presidency. This is a big blow for Donald Trump who won Michigan in 2016.

Scott Morrison says he has 'great confidence' in US democracy
Australian Prime Minister Scott says the record voter turnout at the US election is a symbol of "democracy working" as the country enters a second night of vote counting.

"I have great confidence in the democracy of the United States, and I have great confidence in their institutions. And the thing about great institutions and democracies is they deal with whatever challenges come," Mr Morrison said on Thursday.

"Having a great election, with the greatest turnout its ever seen in its history, is actually a demonstration of democracy working."

Asked whether he believed Donald Trump was attempting to undermine democracy through legal challenges and fraud allegations, Mr Morrison said he was "not a participant in the US political process". 

"We respect the decision America will make in their democracy," he said. 

Mississippi has voted to replace it's Confederate-themed flag
Amid all the chaos, Mississippi has voted to approve a design for a new flag to replace the state's Confederate-themed banner.

The new flag, according to the Jackson Clarion Ledger, will feature a magnolia on a blue, red and gold background.

Brenda McIntyre, a co-owner of A Complete Flag Source store in Jackson, Mississippi shows off the magnolia-centered banner.
Brenda McIntyre, a co-owner of A Complete Flag Source store in Jackson, Mississippi shows off the magnolia-centered banner. Source: AAP


It will only become official next year, assuming politicians endorse the referendum and pass a law to that effect.

Preliminary results on Wednesday morning, local time, indicated that 72 per cent of voters supported the new design.

You can read the full story here

Oh, it's getting close now
A number of American media outlets, including CNN and Fox News, have now called Michigan for Joe Biden. 

While AP is yet to make the call, let's take a look at what will happen if the Democrats come out on top there. 

With 16 electoral votes it would take Mr Biden's tally to 264 - just a whisper from the 270 needed to claim the presidency. 

He would then only need one more state, possibly Nevada (six electoral votes) where Mr Biden is leading by about 0.6 per cent. 



Donald Trump's son accuses Democrats of 'trying to cheat' in Pennsylvania
Donald Trump's son, Eric, has claimed the Democrats are "trying to cheat" in Pennsylvania during a Republican campaign media conference.

Repeating arguments made by his father and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump said Republican poll watchers were not being let inside counting sites and ballots had been found in drainage ditches. The Trump campaign is yet to put forward any evidence of cheating.

"We're going to win Pennsylvania. But they're trying to cheat us out of it because they know it is their only path to victory," he said. 

This seems like a pertinent time to direct you to this explainer by my colleague Gavin Fernando looking at what will happen if the President refuses to concede the election. 



Donald Trump 'claims' Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan
In an astonishing tweet Donald Trump says he has "claimed for electoral vote purposes" Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan, despite no official sources calling these states.

In fact, shortly before Mr Trump's tweet, CNN, NBC and Fox News called Michigan for Joe Biden, who holds a slim lead. 

In a follow-up tweet, Mr Trump alleged, without evidence, that a "large number" of ballots had been secretly dumped in Michigan.

 

'Quite possibly we'll do a national lawsuit': Rudy Giuliani
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has declared Donald Trump the winner of battleground state Pennsylvania, despite no official sources doing so, as he flagged further legal action.

He called Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, a "crooked Democrat machine" alleging that officials had prevented Republican observers from viewing the ballots, forcing them to stand approximately 10 metres away.

"While all of you thought there was some kind of legitimate count going on here in Philadelphia, it was totally illegitimate," he said. 

"We're going to win this election. We've actually won it, it's just a matter of counting these votes fairly," he said. 

Earlier today the Trump campaign announced their intention to a launch a legal bid to stop counting in Pennsylvania. 

As we heard earlier this morning, there are still millions of votes to be counted in Pennsylvania - one of the states that were unable to tally the record number of postal and early votes ahead of election day.  

'No blue states and red states when we win': Biden
Joe Biden also used his address to call for unity across the polarised country, declaring there would be "no Blue states and Red states" when they win.

"To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. We are not enemies. What brings us together as Americans is so much stronger than anything that can tear us apart," he said.

Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Delaware.
Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Delaware. Source: AAP


He said the presidency was not a "partisan institution" and called for every vote to be counted, hours after the Trump campaign announced their intentions to halt counting in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

"No-one is going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever," he said.


It is the first time Mr Biden and Ms Harris had appeared publicly together since before election day. 

It's 'clear' we're on track to win: Biden
Joe Biden says he is confident he has a "clear" path to the White House, projecting significant Democratic gains in Pennsylvania, but stopped short of declaring victory. 

"I am here to report, when the counting is finished, we believe we will be the winners," he said, addressing the nation in Delaware alongside vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris.


"With all the votes counted, we have won Wisconsin by 20,000 votes ... In Michigan, by over 35,000 votes, and is growing. A substantially bigger margin than President Trump won Michigan in 2016."

Mr Biden said the popular vote result was of "particular significance" to him, citing a lead of about three million votes.

"Senator Harris and I are on track to win more votes than any ticket in the history of this country," he said. 

The state of play
Alrighty, while we wait for Joe Biden to stand up (you can find the live stream in the 6:58am post) let's take a look at the current situation.

There are now five battleground states to keep an eye on, after Wisconsin went to Mr Biden. The remaining key states are Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia

Counting in Alaska is still underway, but it is considered an extremely safe Republican seat. So if we those three electoral votes, that gives Mr Trump 217 compared to Mr Biden's 258.

If we assume the candidates will win the states they are currently leading in - Michigan and Nevada for the Democrats, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina for Republicans - Mr Biden would be the next President of the United States with exactly 270 electoral votes.

But the margins in these states are extremely narrow. In Michigan, for example, there is less than one percentage point between the candidates. The Trump campaign has indicated they will launch a legal bid to halt counting in this state and Pennsylvania.



Donald Trump moves to stop count in Pennsylvania
The Trump campaign has announced it will also seek to stop the counting of votes in Pennsylvania on Thursday, shortly after launching similar legal bids in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Trump campaign accused electoral officials of prohibiting its "observers" from approaching closer than 7.6 meters to vote counters.

"We are also suing to temporarily halt counting until there is meaningful transparency and Republicans can ensure all counting is done above board and by the law," deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said in a statement.

Foreign minister Marise Payne declines to comment on Donald Trump's fraud allegations
Foreign minister Marise Payne has declined to comment on Donald Trump's suggestions that electoral fraud has taken place in the US.

She told ABC News she was "confident" the systems in place that have "stood the test of time" would deliver an outcome.

"We will work with whoever is elected in this process in the US, as you would expect, and indeed as we have always done," she said.

Australia's Foreign Minister Marine Payne.
Foreign Minister Marine Payne speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP


"There have been contentious elections in the United States in the past, contentious elections here, frankly. And the person who is in the Lodge, the person who is in the White House, is not the be-all and end-all of this."

Asked for her thoughts on Mr Trump alleging the election was being stolen, Senator Payne said it was a "matter for the US". 

"There is a lot of claims and counterclaims being made. And one thing that we have been very careful to avoid, as we should, is providing a running commentary on each candidate, no matter who it is," she added.

"What is important is that every vote is counted, and I'm sure that they will be. I'm absolutely confident that they will be."


Senator Payne's opposition counterpart, Penny Wong, on Wednesday called for the Democratic process to be respected "even when it takes time". Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also weighed in, tweeting: "Count every vote". 

The Trump campaign has so far said they would contest the result in Wisconsin, which saw Mr Biden come out on top with a narrow lead, and launch a legal bid to halt counting in Michigan. 

FYI
From Nate Silver, editor of US election analysis website FiveThirtyEight:

 

Watch live as Joe Biden speaks in Delaware
Democratic candidate Joe Biden is expected to speak soon, after he was projected to win the battleground state of Wisconsin. You can watch it live here.



Trump campaign launches court bid to halt counting in Michigan
Donald Trump's campaign say they have asked a court to stop the counting of votes in the battleground state of Michigan, where rival Biden holds a thin lead, hours after they announced they would contest the result in Wisconsin. 

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien alleged, without providing evidence, that his team had not been allowed legally guaranteed access to observe vote counting in "numerous" locations.

"We have filed a suit today in the Michigan Court of Claims to halt counting until meaningful access is granted," he said.

"We also demand to review those ballot which were opened and counted while we did not have meaningful access.


"President Trump is committed to ensuring that all legal votes are counted in Michigan and everywhere else."



Joe Biden to speak shortly, Donald Trump lashes out on Twitter
Joe Biden is expected to address the nation in Delaware shortly, following his win in the key battleground state of Wisconsin. We'll bring you that speech as it happens, so don't go anywhere. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has also been sharing his thoughts. On Thursday morning, AEST, Twitter marked one of the President's Tweets, accusing Democrats of "working hard" to make votes "disappear" in Pennsylvania, as misleading.

Just over an hour later he said:

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