The United States is heading for a historic presidential election that will see the first woman of colour lead a major party ticket, with just 2 percent of the world's population eligible to vote in a contest that could reshape global politics.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate, faces Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump, who's been busy energising his supporters with populist rhetoric.
The outcome of the election will influence the political landscape far beyond US borders.
"Just under 2 percent of the world's population have the right to go to the polls in November to decide who will be the next US president," said Misha Glenny, rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.
He adds that with an average 60 percent voter turnout in US presidential elections since 2004, about 96 million people will make a choice with far-reaching consequences for the remaining eight billion around the globe.
The election carries stark implications for US foreign policy.
"We are in an incredibly dangerous moment, whoever wins the election," says David Vine, a political anthropologist and author of The United States at War.
"The choice between Harris and Trump includes a choice between a future where the United States remains an empire with bases and troops encircling the globe and an empire that is engaged in multiple wars," he added.
Domestic concerns
While the world watches, American voters are focused on issues like immigration, education and the economy. Rising prices are hitting households hard, with 56 percent of Americans reporting financial strain, up from earlier this year.
Polls, like those from Pew Research, show that voters trust Trump more on economic issues than Harris, which could hurt her candidacy.
Politically, there are fears about authoritarianism, especially if Trump wins a second term.
This sentiment has led to what Business Insider calls the "great Trump diaspora" as some to consider leaving the country altogether should their preferred candidate lose.
A Scripps News/Ipsos poll this week found that 62 percent of people think violence after Election Day is "very likely" or "somewhat likely", with fears of unrest shared by 59 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of Democrats.
Harris holds a slight lead in the polls, but by no more than 3 percent, and her advantage has been shrinking in recent days.
Abortion rights have become a key concern for voters, with 8 percent identifying it as a top issue – the highest percentage recorded by Gallup. LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for transgender individuals, are also a focus, with many fearing their safety could be at risk depending on the election outcome.
The Civil Liberties Union reported that during Trump’s previous term, his administration "initiated a sustained effort to erase protections for LGBTQ people."
Electoral college doubts
Another point of concern is the US electoral system itself. Established in the 18th century, it relies on 538 electors who formally cast votes for the president based on their state’s popular vote. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win, but this system doesn’t always align with the national popular vote.
"You could theoretically win the Electoral College with about 35 percent of the total popular vote," said Mark Herman Schwarz, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, explaining that the system disproportionately favours rural states with smaller populations.
Abolishing the Electoral College would be difficult, as it’s enshrined in the constitution and would require approval from two-thirds of Congress and at least 38 states.
"The only way I could see change is if Republicans consistently lost elections to Democrats who won fewer popular votes but more electoral college votes," said Schwarz, though he sees this as unlikely given the current system’s advantages for Republicans.
