Former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump cast his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida, for the 2024 US Presidential Election on Tuesday morning, expressing high confidence in his prospects for a second term.

Arriving at the polling station with his wife, Melania Trump, near their Florida residence, Trump addressed the media with a bold outlook, saying, “I feel very confident. I hear we’re doing very well everywhere.” He added that this was the “best” of his three campaigns, predicting, “It won’t even be close,” though he said the process may take “a long time to certify” due to extended counting times.

Referencing the lengthy ballot-tallying process, Trump commented on the delayed results and criticized the cost of voting machines, comparing it to France’s streamlined election process. Trump has frequently raised concerns about mail-in ballots and their effect on election timing and integrity.

Trump’s remarks follow a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, where he urged “hardworking patriots” to secure the nation’s future. Promising to restore economic stability, Trump said, “Under my leadership, we are quickly going to turn this economic nightmare into an economic miracle… We will make America wealthy again, and we will make America affordable again. But you must vote!”

Polling is now underway across 34 US states, including key battlegrounds like Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, as the nation votes in what is considered one of its most impactful elections in recent history. Most polling locations will be open between 6 am and 8 pm local time, with the first polls set to close at 7 pm ET (5:30 am IST) and the final polls in Hawaii and Alaska closing at midnight ET (10:30 am IST). Counting will commence shortly after.

The election is held every four years on the first Tuesday of November, with this year’s outcome likely shaping both the US and global political landscape for the coming term.

(Inputs from ANI)