Live US election 2016: one day to go

• 12:05am on 9 Nov 2016;
• Lynette Eyb

Thanks for joining us for today's live election blog.

We're wrapping this one up now, but you can pop across here to follow all the action on Election Day proper in the US.

• 11:52pm on 8 Nov 2016;
• Eryk Bagshaw

The view from the streets of Germany

Hamburg local Frank Kuhne. Photo: Eryk Bagshaw

Eryk Bagshaw writes from Hamburg:

What a difference eight years makes. 

History might be made if Hillary Clinton becomes the first female president of the United States, but none of the excitement that greeted Barack Obama's historic victory is present on the streets of Germany today.

Germans have felt a special bond to US elections since the end of World War II, thankful for America's role in ending Nazi rule. It's evident in the wall-to-wall coverage here, but the tone of optimism under Obama has evaporated, thanks in no small part to the prospect of a Trump presidency.

Frank Kuhne, a book publisher in Hamburg, said he was sorry that it's Clinton – and not another women – on the cusp of becoming the first female president.

"Today Clinton is a protecting candidate, not a candidate that stands for women's leadership and that is so sad," he said.

He said Trump's political ignorance was being replicated throughout Europe through conservative leaders like Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the rise of far right groups like Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Yet despite the synergies with his immigration policies due to the refugee crisis unfolding in Europe, the AfD has not directly endorsed Trump, signalling only that his presidency might help salve tensions with Russia. 

"Trump may offer possible alternatives," AfD leader Frauke Petry said in October. "Whether he can actually deliver that we do not know. But if Mrs Clinton continues the path of Obama then we may have an expanded war in Ukraine and that cannot be in German interests."

It will be a late night in Germany for those following the election, with leaders here likely needing to wait until the early hours of the morning for an outcome that will decide geopolitical relations in the region.

• 11:26pm on 8 Nov 2016;
• Lynette Eyb

What did the tiger say to the polar bear?

Yunona votes for Clinton. Photo: Royev Ruchey Zoo

A tiger and polar bear in a Siberian zoo have cast cast their votes to predict the outcome of the US election.

When invited to choose between pumpkins representing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, female tiger Yunona favoured Clinton, while polar bear Felix (after some deliberation) picked Trump.

The Royev Ruchey Zoo in Krasnoyarsk said the animals faced a tough choice as the pumpkins had been filled with fresh meat and fish, both favourite treats for the animals.

Reuters

• 10:52pm on 8 Nov 2016;
• Georgina Mitchell

Bernardi has his fingers (and toes) crossed for Trump

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi.

One of Donald Trump's biggest Australian supporters has conceded that Hillary Clinton will probably win the US election.

Speaking on Sky News on Tuesday night, Liberal senator Cory Bernardi – who has taken to wearing a hat reading "make Australia great again" – said it was "impossible to call a result".

He was asked by host Paul Murray to use his head, not his heart, to predict what would happen.

"If I was a betting man, I'd probably put the money on Clinton," Mr Bernardi said.

"But my heart, and I'm just still carrying a sneaking suspicion, that Trump will get over the line."

Mr Bernardi is currently in New York on a three-month secondment to the United Nations.

• 10:32pm on 8 Nov 2016

'It's do or die at this point'

Sarah Miller is a 27-year-old Democrat with a full time job in higher education, who went from volunteering for the Clinton campaign two evenings a week in September, to six days a week as the race intensified. In these final days before the presidential election, she is here at the party headquarters every day, working the phones and knocking on doors. 

Our reporter Jo Tovey sent this report from Raleigh, the capital of key swing state North Carolina.

• 8:02pm on 8 Nov 2016

Key states to watch

There are seven states to keep an eye on once polls open in the US:

• Florida
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Nevada
• Arizona

Each are considered "battleground" states - but Florida may be the most important.

Since 1992, the candidate who wins Florida has ultimately won the election.

More than 6 million people, or two-thirds of those expected to vote, have already cast their ballot there - with Latino turnout up considerably from past years.

For Trump to take victory in the state, he will have to win over a huge margin of white voters and entice Democrats to cross over to vote for him.

Read more here

• 7:14pm on 8 Nov 2016

Fairfax reporter Josephine Tovey, who is based in the United States, was in the thick of one of the final Trump rallies on Monday local time.

She reports that the Raleigh, North Carolina rally was a "peculiar mix of excitement ... and shocking crudeness".

"Outside the J.S. Dorton Arena, 'Hillary for Prison' shirts were selling for half price, 'Trump for President' bumper stickers were four for $10 and at least one merchant was looking forward to it being over," Tovey reports.

"Asked what he would do with the leftover stock, he whispered 'burn it'."

Read her full report here

• 6:36pm on 8 Nov 2016

The New York Times has put together an interesting interactive on all their front pages which cover presidential elections.

Many of the front pages look nothing like newspapers today. Photos were first used on an election front page in 1932, when Franklin Roosevelt claimed election victory.

Colour photographs were used for the first time 68 years later, in the year 2000, when George W Bush became president.

The archives show numerous historic moments, like the election of Barack Obama, where the paper proclaimed: "Racial barrier falls".

View their full interactive here

• 6:07pm on 8 Nov 2016

Calm before the social media storm

It's the very early hours of Tuesday morning in the US, so no doubt both candidates are fast asleep preparing for the day ahead.

Both made one last post on Twitter before the election day frenzy.

• 5:52pm on 8 Nov 2016

How first votes are cast

In general, polls open across the US at around 7am. However, state laws in New Hampshire mean they can open in some towns much earlier.

Towns with fewer than 100 voters - like Dixville Notch, Hart's Location and Millsfield - have permission to open their polls at midnight and close them as soon as all registered voters have had their say.

Since results are filtering through, it means all registered voters have cast their ballots.

New Hampshire has been given a lot of attention by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in recent days.

Trump visited Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday evening - the same place Clinton visited on Sunday.

US President Barack Obama also spoke at a Clinton rally in Durham, New Hampshire, on Monday.

• 5:25pm on 8 Nov 2016

Now Trump takes the lead

Two other towns in New Hampshire opened their polling at midnight - Hart's Location, with a population of 41, and Millsfield, population 23.

In Hart's Location, Hillary Clinton got 17 votes while Donald Trump got 14.

Gary Johnson scored three votes, while former candidates Bernie Sanders and John Kasich each had their names written in.

In Millsfield, Trump beat Clinton convincingly, with 16 votes to her 4. Bernie Sanders also had his name written in once.

All up, if the results from Dixville Notch, Hart's Location and Millsfield are tallied, Donald Trump comes out on top - with 32 votes to Clinton's 25.

• 5:13pm on 8 Nov 2016

Trump's final rally over

Donald Trump has left the stage.

In his parting words, he urged the Grand Rapids crowd to go to bed early, so they can get up and vote in the morning.

It's already past 1am in Michigan, so the crowd seemed to listen, shuffling out quickly once he stepped down.

The next event on Trump's calendar is billed as his "victory party" - at New York's Hilton Midtown on Tuesday night.

• 5:02pm on 8 Nov 2016

Here's a photo from Dixville Notch, the first place in the US to vote on Tuesday morning.

Clay Smith was the first voter to cast his ballot, in front of a sign that declared his town "first in the nation".

Hillary Clinton won 4 of the town's 12 votes.

• 4:55pm on 8 Nov 2016

Donald Trump says he will terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) if he is elected.

Referring to himself in the third person, he asks the crowd: "Did Trump win the debates?"

The crowd cheers.

He asks if Mike Pence won the vice-presidential debate and the crowd cheers again.

• 4:38pm on 8 Nov 2016

Trump steps up for final rally

Donald Trump has taken to the stage for his final rally in Grand Rapids, where it's just after 12.35am.

First off, he took a jab at Hillary Clinton's celebrity endorsements.

"We don't need Jay Z or Beyonce," he said.

"We don't need Jon Bon Jovi or Lady Gaga, all we need is great ideas to make America great again."

He has given a shout-out to former Republican candidates, including Dr Ben Carson.

Trump has also pledged: "After I win, I'm going to be coming back to Michigan a lot".

• 4:34pm on 8 Nov 2016

Clinton ahead in first polls

It's just after 12.30am in New Hampshire, but the tiny Town of Dixville Notch has already voted and had their votes counted.

Four of the town's 12 residents voted for Hillary Clinton, while two voted for Donald Trump.

Polls opened just after midnight and closed as soon as all registered voters had cast their ballots.

Libertarian Gary Johnson took one vote and Mitt Romney - the Republican nominee in the 2012 presidential race - had his name written in.

• 4:21pm on 8 Nov 2016

Mike Pence has invoked the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone that spontaneously combusts.

He says it's like Obamacare.

Pence says that, like the phone, he's going to pull Obamacare "off the market" before it "burns a hole in our wallets".

The crowd cheers.

Pence says Trump's motorcade is "heading this way" and encourages people to vote.

• 4:07pm on 8 Nov 2016

Mike Pence takes to the stage

Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence is currently on the stage at Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the last Trump rally of the day.

He says it's just past midnight in the state - so it's Tuesday, the day everyone gets a chance to "make America great again".

Everyone cheers when he says Donald Trump has just landed and is on the way.

Pence filling in time talking about Hillary Clinton while Trump travels.

• 4:01pm on 8 Nov 2016;
• Georgina Mitchell

Trump victory in South Australia

As the US prepares to take to the polls, a less famous Trump has snatched victory in another race.

Tronald Trump, a greyhound, ran in race 7 at the Angle Park track in South Australia on Tuesday afternoon.

The canine Trump was quick off the mark, pulling ahead of the pack early and maintaining the lead.

He was several body lengths ahead of the closest competitors as he crossed the finish line in 30.11 seconds.

Could this be a sign of things to come in the US election?

• 2:53pm on 8 Nov 2016;
• Latika Bourke

Donald Trump's "big news" revealed

Donald Trump has revealed his "big news."  At his later campaign rally in New Hampshire Trump announced two celebrity sporting endorsements.

Tom Brady is a quarterback for the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick is the team's coach.

Earlier Brady said he had not yet voted but Trump claimed the superstar footballer had told him he'd already cast in favour of team Trump.