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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, 11:33 AM EST

Biden wraps up a visit to hometown of Scranton 

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

Biden wrapped up an Election Day visit to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. 

The former vice president visited his childhood home and church as well as a local carpenters' union and gave his granddaughters a tour of the place he grew up.

Democratic Presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden penned this message, "From this house to the White House with the grace of God," on the wall of his childhood home in Scranton, PA on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020.
Biden pool/Axios

He signed the walls of his childhood home during this trip, writing, “From this house to the White House with the grace of God. Joe Biden 11-3-2020.”

He also stopped by the sandwich shop Hanks Hoagies, where supporters flocked Biden.

Earlier in the morning in Delaware, Biden attended church and visited the gravesite of his late son Beau Biden -- at the same cemetery that his first wife and baby daughter were buried in 1972. 

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden walks with his granddaughter Finnegan Biden into St Joseph On the Brandywine Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., Nov. 3, 2020.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

After Scranton, Biden is heading to Philadelphia.

-ABC News' John Verhovek.

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!”

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