アメリカ大統領選挙

米大統領選挙＝US Presidential electionは、11月3日に行われます。州単位の選挙人＝electoral college獲得数により勝者が決まり、当選には選挙人の過半数270人が必要です。

The US presidential election takes place 3 November. But it's possible the candidate with the most votes from the public won't be the winner.　

This is because the president is not chosen directly by the voters, but what's known as the electoral college.　

Of the current 538 electors, an absolute majority of 270 or more electoral votes is required to elect the president and vice president.

※electoral college =アメリカの大統領・副大統領を選出する代理人たち、選挙団　→　electors/electorate

共和党＝the Republican Party/Republicans/GOP（Grand Old Party）のテーマカラーは赤。民主党＝the Democratic Party/Democratsは青。開票の最初は、共和党が大きなリードを保つ「赤い蜃気楼」‘red mirage’がみられ、開票が進むにつれ、民主党が巻き返す「ブルーシフト」 ‘blue shift’が見られます。郵便投票＝mail-in voting/ballotが記録的な数で、数日は勝者が決まらない宙ぶらりん状態が続きました。

The United States remains in limbo as the there is yet no clear winner of the presidential election as the race remains close, with both parties claiming they are heading for victory.

※be in limbo　中ぶらりんになっている、不安定な［中途半端な・どっちつかず］状態になっている

※limbo=（カトリック）辺獄。天国と地獄の中間の場所。中間の場所［状態］

激戦州＝battleground state/ swing states / purple states / ‘toss-up’ statesの開票に時間がかかり、大接戦となりましたが、11月10日には、激戦州のひとつのペンシルバニアをバイデンが制して270に到達しました。

The 2020 US presidential race is heading towards a near photo finish.

※tossup=コイン投げ、硬貨投げ、五分五分の見込み

※photo finish=写真判定。（口語）大接戦、きわどい勝負　→close race/neck-and-neck battle

U.S. former Vice President Joe Biden has secured the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the 2020 presidential election.

負けた候補者が勝った候補者へ敗北宣言を行い、国はまた再び一つにまとまるのが正統なパターンでした。しかし、不正選挙＝rigged electionだと法廷闘争を行う意向のトランプは敗北宣言をしていません。

Conceding a lost election is the classy thing to do and it has usually been a part of the country coming together after a divisive campaign.

But President Donald Trump has not yet conceded to Joe Biden, who was projected the winner of the 2020 election, and has not indicated he has any intention of doing so.　 Yet concession is a custom, not something required under the law.　

There are usually two elements to a concession -- a call to the victor and a speech to supporters.

※concede＝容認する、譲歩する、敗北したと認める　　※concession=敗北、譲歩

多くの弁護士が訴訟に備えて激戦州の選挙法を研究していると言います。

Both presidential candidates and their respective parties are gearing up for a fight.

Legions of lawyers are studying election laws in the battleground states and will be ready for litigation.

※legions of ～　多数の

※litigation=訴訟

しかしメディアは、バイデンを、projected winner（当選確実者）やPresident-elect(次期大統領)だと報道をしはじめ、トランプのスピーチを途中でカットしました。

Cable networks, broadcast networks and Twitter cut short their broadcasts of President Donald Trump’s speech from the White House briefing room.　

Trump began his remarks by baselessly claiming that Democrats were committing “fraud” and trying to “steal” the election.

1月までの任期中の、政権移行に不安を持つ人も多いようです。

As the last remaining states count their ballots, many Americans are likely worried about the transition of power and what a lame-duck President Donald Trump might do in the short months before he leaves office.

※lame-duck=再選に敗れた任期満了前の議員、大統領