US Presidential election result 2020 : Trump leads Biden in Florida

US election results 2020: Americans by the millions waited patiently to cast their ballots at libraries, schools and arenas across the United States on Tuesday, in an orderly show of civic duty that belied the deep tensions of one of the most polarizing presidential campaigns in the country's history.

Face masks worn by many and boarded-up stores in some city centers were reminders of two of the issues shaping 2020's elections, with COVID-19 still ravaging parts of the country after a summer of sometimes violence-marred protests against police brutality and racism.

Biden, the Democratic former vice president and a career politician, has had a strong and consistent lead in national polls.

But the Republican Trump is close in enough swing states to possibly piece together the 270 state-by-state Electoral College votes needed to hold on to the presidency, which he won in a surprise 2016 election result despite losing the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million ballots.

However, it may be days before the result is known, especially if legal challenges focused on postal ballots are accepted in the event of a tight race.

There is also a fear of possible unrest. Several cities are boarding up buildings in anticipation of possible protests, including around the White House and in New York City.

Polls opened in some Eastern states at 6 am EST (1100 GMT). The most closely watched results will start to trickle in after 7 pm EST (2400 GMT) when polls close in states such as Georgia, though definitive national results could take days if the contest is tight.