10 swing states determining US Presidential Election winner

American voters went to the polls on Tuesday, and cast their vote on who should be the 45th President of the United States of America.

The race, which has been neck and neck, will be decided in a few key battlegrounds.

Of the 50 states, less than a dozen will determine whether it is President Hillary Clinton or President Donald Trump who enters the White House.

Under the US system each state has number of electoral college votes reflecting its population size.

To win the presidency you need get 270 of the 538 electoral college votes up for grabs.

Here’s where Clinton and Trump are fighting for the votes:

Florida

Florida for many is the big one.

Indeed, all eyes will be on the Sunshine State as we head towards the US election results.

Florida is seen as a big prize because it has a large number of electoral college votes on offer.

With 29 electoral college votes, it is a must win for Trump if he has any chance of getting to the White House.

Ohio

Ohio is a seen as a “bellwether state” because voters have correctly picked every single US president since 1960.

In fact, since the Second World War, only once has Ohio failed to back the winning presidential candidate.

That was in 1960 when it went for Richard Nixon over John F Kennedy.

Otherwise it has been the case of “win Ohio, win the presidency.”

Pennsylvania

This former industrial heartland should be natural Trump territory.

And with 20 electoral college votes in play, the Republican needs to win the Keystone State.

Clinton has managed to maintain a clear lead in Pennsylvania so far, though.

Arizona

This should be a Republican stronghold and 11 electoral college votes in the bank for Trump.

It has voted for the Grand Old Party in every Presidential election since 1952 except for 1996 when it backed Bill Clinton.

Democrats are hoping to pull off another surprise result this year.

The Democratic candidate would like to win back Arizona after it has voted Republican for two decades.

Iowa

The state has swung between Democrats and Republicans over the years.

It went for George W Bush in 2004 and then Obama in 2008 and 2012.

With just six electoral votes the prize is not huge but could prove decisive in a tight race.

Michigan

After years of voting Republican, Michigan went Democrat in 1992 and has stayed with them ever since.

Michigan will be a key battleground for Trump and Clinton – and potentially signify the victor.

Nevada

Once a Republican stronghold, Nevada has become a battleground state in recent elections.

The Silver State went for Bill Clinton in the 1990s before returning George W Bush’s Republicans.

In the last two presidential races they backed Barack Obama.

New Hampshire

One of the 13 founding states New Hampshire is surrounded by a sea of Democrat blue.

But this little state, with just four electoral college votes, revels in its independence.

It last voted Republican in 2000 and there are few signs it will return red this year.

In every recent poll Clinton has been in the lead.

North Carolina

The two candidates are neck-and-neck in North Carolina, although some polls put Mr Trump ahead.

Mr Obama won in North Carolina in 2008, but he lost out to his Republican rival Mr Romney in 2012.

With 15 electoral college votes it could ease Clinton’s path to the White House if she can pull off a surprise win.

Wisconsin

After backing Ronald Reagan in the 1980s Wisconsin has been solidly Democrat in every presidential race since 1988.

But the run of blue wins were not a walkover and Obama only won by a narrow margin four years’ ago.

With 10 electoral college votes, Clinton will be keen to win in the Badger State.

The latest polls point to her being on course for victory.