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Election 2020 updates: Biden warns of 'dark winter,' pushes masks in pandemic plan

The president-elect emphasized how he would handle the pandemic response.

ByCatherine Thorbecke, Morgan Winsor, Libby Cathey, Adia Robinson, Lauren King, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, and Marc Nathanson
Last Updated: November 10, 2020, 10:14 AM EST

Joe Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, capping a tumultuous and tension-filled campaign during a historic pandemic against President Donald Trump. ABC News characterized Joe Biden as the apparent winner of his home state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 vote threshold needed to capture the presidency.

The hard-fought battle against the president was set against the backdrop of racial unrest and the coronavirus pandemic and bitter divisions among the electorate.

Trump had falsely declared on election night, when he held a lead in several key states, that he won the contest and alleged without evidence, after the count started to swing the other way, that the election was being stolen from him and that fraud had been committed.

Painting the election as a "battle for the soul of the nation," Biden won on a message of unity over division, compassion over anger, and reality over what he called Trump's "wishful thinking" as the coronavirus pandemic cast a heavy shadow over the campaign.

The 2020 election has shattered voting records with votes totaling 147 million and counting, surpassing the 138 million who voted in 2016.

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Here's how election week unfolded. All times Eastern.
Nov 03, 2020, 11:03 AM EST

First lady casts her vote in Florida 

PHOTO: First lady Melania Trump arrives to cast her vote during the 2020 presidential election at Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 3, 2020.
First lady Melania Trump arrives to cast her vote during the 2020 presidential election at Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 3, 2020.
Marco Bello/Reuters

First Lady Melania Trump was spotted arriving at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday to cast her vote.

PHOTO: First lady Melania Trump arrives to cast her vote during the 2020 presidential election at Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 3, 2020.
First lady Melania Trump arrives to cast her vote during the 2020 presidential election at Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 3, 2020.
Marco Bello/Reuters

The first lady was the only person not wearing a mask at the site, according to pool reports. Melania Trump briefly spoke to the press Tuesday morning, saying she was feeling “great.” When asked why she did not vote with the president ahead of time, she said, "It’s Election Day, so I wanted to come here to vote today for the election."

Nov 03, 2020, 11:00 AM EST

Polls open in 2 states

The polls are opening in much of Alaska and the State Elections Office opens for accessible voting in Washington.

Nov 03, 2020, 10:52 AM EST

Bill and Hillary Clinton cast their votes

Former President Bill Clinton shared a photo of him and Hillary Clinton, both wearing masks, with "I voted" stickers after they headed to the polls Tuesday.

"Hillary and I just proudly cast our ballots for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he captioned the photo. “They will work tirelessly to heal our divisions and build a better future for all of us. If you haven’t done so already, vote today!”

Nov 03, 2020, 10:52 AM EST

Biden visits his childhood home 

Biden visited his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday where he was greeted by the current resident, Anne Kearns. 

Kearns welcomed Biden’s grandchildren Finnegan and Natalie Biden and told them that they are “welcome anytime.” 

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks to supporters at a canvass kickoff event at Local Carpenters Union 445 on Nov. 3, 2020 in Scranton, Pa.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks to supporters at a canvass kickoff event at Local Carpenters Union 445 on Nov. 3, 2020 in Scranton, Pa. As polls open on Election Day, nearly 100 million Americans have already cast their ballots through early voting and mail-in voting.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The entire street was filled with supporters during his visit. Biden told the crowd it felt good to be home.

The former vice president then asked Kearns if he could show his granddaughters the kitchen, a location where he has recounted many memories while on the campaign trail.

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