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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.

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, 12:28 PM EST

Robocalls with election misinformation reported in Michigan 

ABC News has confirmed robocalls have been going out to voters in the battleground state of Michigan today — specifically targeting the city of Flint, Michigan, where the majority of residents are Black. 

Robocalls "purposefully spreading misinformation" have been going out to residents in Flint, Michigan, today, according to the statements from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The robocalls are telling voters to vote tomorrow -- instead of today -- due to long lines, according to the tweet from Nessel, in which she called the effort "an attempt to suppress the vote."

"Obviously this is FALSE and an effort to suppress the vote," Nessel said in her tweet. "No long lines and today is the last day to vote. Don’t believe the lies! Have your voice heard! RT PLS."

Flint is a Democratic stronghold that former Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama visited earlier this week. Flint has a 53.7% Black population, according to U.S. Census data.

Secretary Benson said her office "will be working quickly all day to stamp out any misinformation."

"Lines in the area and across the state are minimal and moving quickly, and Michigan voters can feel confident that leaders across state and local government are vigilant against these kinds of attacks on their voting rights and attempts at voter suppression," Benson said, "and we will be working quickly all day to stamp out any misinformation aimed at preventing people from exercising their right to vote.” 

-ABC News’ Olivia Rubin.

Nov 03, 2020, 12:15 PM EST

At least 100 million people voted early

At least 100 million people early voted in the 2020 general election, according to the United States Elections Project, which is spearheaded by University of Florida's political expert Michael McDonald. 

In total, an unprecedented 100,298,838 voters have already voted this election.

Nationally, so far, voters have cast 72.8% of the total votes counted in the 2016 general election.

-ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh.

Nov 03, 2020, 12:09 PM EST

Polls open in 2 states and American Samoa

The polls are opening in Hawaii, American Samoa and some areas of Alaska.

Nov 03, 2020, 12:14 PM EST

Milwaukee to livestream its absentee vote counting 

Milwaukee election officials will livestream their tabulation of the county’s absentee ballots, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Local election officials estimate the process could take until 3 or 4 a.m. 

Those interested can tune in on YouTube, where three cameras have been set up to live broadcast the whole process. 

In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Commissioners are similarly broadcasting tabulations.

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