These are the U.S. election swing states to watch as results emerge

Months of gruelling U.S. election campaigning are set to come to a head Tuesday night, as Americans vote in the final hours of a race that has been unprecedented in too many ways to count.

U.S. President Donald Trump is fighting to secure another four years in the White House, while Democratic challenger and former vice-president Joe Biden is pushing for a win to boot him out and with all eyes watching closely for results from key swing states like Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

LIVE RESULTS: Ongoing coverage as Americans vote for their next president

In order to win the presidency, one candidate must hit the magic number: 270.

That’s the number of seats it takes to secure the Electoral College.

Each state is allotted a set number of Electoral College votes and the swing states are the most fiercely contended battlegrounds, playing a decisive role in determining which candidate wins enough Electoral College votes to become president.

You can read a more detailed breakdown of how the Electoral College works here.

1:01 U.S. election: What happens after election night?

Traditionally, the main swing states are North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Ohio. For the purposes of this piece and given the unprecedented nature of this campaign, we will also be keeping an eye on Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, Iowa and Nevada.

The question of control over the House of Representatives and the Senate are distinct races. For more information on how those are unfolding during the night to come, click here and here.

Here are the swing states to watch at a glance.

Arizona

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 11

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Biden.

Florida

Florida will be among the key battleground states to watch. For more on this swing state, you can follow along with state-specific results here.

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 29

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Trump.

Georgia

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Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 16

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Undetermined at this time.

Iowa

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 6

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Trump.

Michigan

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 16

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Biden.

Minnesota

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 10

Who won last time: 2016 Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Biden.

Nevada

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 6

Who won last time: Clinton

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Undetermined at this time.

North Carolina

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 15

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Undetermined at this time.

Ohio

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 18

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Trump.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a critical state to watch but its results are expected be delayed because of the large number of mail-in and advance ballots to count, and tight electoral timelines to do it.

Results for this state will also be updated in real time here.

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 20

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Undetermined at this time.

Texas

All eyes are on Texas amid record voter turnout numbers across the country. Strong polling numbers for Democrats up and down the ballot in the state have led to serious questions over whether the long-time Republican stronghold could flip blue. You can follow as results roll in here

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 38

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Trump.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is now being called for Biden, with the former vice president projected to win the state with 49.5 per cent of the vote compared to a trailing Trump with 48.8 per cent.

Trump’s campaign said on Wednesday it will ask for a recount in Wisconsin given the margin there is forecast to be within one percentage point, which was the same margin by which Trump won the state in 2016 over Clinton.

Number of Electoral College votes up for grabs: 10

Who won last time: Trump

Who is projected to win the state in 2020: Biden.

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