Voters in South Philadelphia say voting was "easy" and "safe" this morning.
Americans are heading to the polls today in what is shaping up as one of the closest presidential elections in living memory.
Polls have candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a virtual dead heat.
Voting stations in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania opened at 7am local time to allow for people to vote prior to work.
Jonah Abrams, an elected Democratic official at the first ward voting station in South Philadelphia, told RNZ that turnout had been strong throughout the morning, with queues around the block when the polls opened.
Abrams said since then there had been a steady stream of people in coming into vote in what is a predominately Democratic favoured ward.
Jonah Abrams outside the South Philadelphia older adult centre on election day. Photo: Nick Monro/RNZ
"I knocked the doors of a lot of my neighbours to make sure that they've got a plan to vote, that they know where to go... and from what I heard I am very optimistic, I have been wrong before, but at least from what I've seen I'm feeling good."
Abrams said the numbers of voters so far for this ward were looking strong compared with previous elections.
"The last presidential election was completely different because of the pandemic, so many more people voted by mail."
Elected ward officials in Pennsylvania were allowed to talk to voters heading into the polling booths and help them with instructions about the voting process.
Voters spoken to by RNZ said they were happy with the process of voting, that it was smooth and there were no hiccups.
Outside the South Philadelphia Older Adult Centre. Photo: Nick Monro/RNZ
Many said they were concerned about what might happen in the US after the election and that the election process had been stressful and tense.
"Very easy, very safe process," one voter said.
"I voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I think democracy, I just don't trust Donald Trump to do the right thing if re-elected back into officer."
Millions of American's have chosen to vote early this election, however the Democrat party is hoping a big turnout today will prove the difference and win the election for Harris.
Trump supporter outside the South Philadelphia Older Adult Centre. Photo: Nick Monro/RNZ
Meanwhile, Trump voters spoken to by RNZ at the polling station were confident that the former president had done enough to the win the election.
Some Trump supports were upset that there was a lack of Republican party signage and election officials at the station in Philadelphia.
"You don't see no Trump signs, it's all Kamala Harris, advertisements for her."
Many commentators believe that the Philadelphia suburbs could be critical in determining the outcome of the election.
Pennsylvania has 19 electoral college votes and the candidate that wins the state will have an easier path to getting the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.
The latest polling shows Donald Trump and Kamala Harris neck and neck in Pennsylvania.
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