Joe Biden launches transition website as he inches closer to being declared the winner

FORMER US vice president Joe Biden has launched a transition website in anticipation of being declared the winner of the recent presidential elections which is set to be concluded shortly with a winner likely to be declared today.

On Tuesday, Americans went to the polls with the presidential election proving to be a close race between incumbent President Donald trump and Mr Biden. Votes are still being counted but results are being awaited from just Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina before a winner can be declared.

Under the US electoral system, a candidate needs to win 270 college votes to be declared winner and at the moment, Mr Biden has 253 electoral college votes to President Trump's 213 votes. It is widely anticipated that Mr Biden may just win it as he only needs to emerge victorious in one or two states to win.

However, President Trump has refused to concede defeat and has even alleged that the elections were rigged, although he has not provided any evidence to back up these claims. Already President Trump's Republican Party has filed law suits in four states demanding recounts and questioning the fairness of voting.

Mr Biden's Democratic Party, however, remains optimistic that it will emerge victorious and the former vice president has already began making preparations to assume office. Early this morning, Mr Biden launched a transition website named So that the Biden-Harris Administration Can Hit the Ground Running on Day One.

It comes with a statement that reads: “The American people will determine who will serve as the next president of the United States. Votes are still being counted in several states around the country.

“The crises facing the country are severe, from a pandemic to an economic recession, climate change to racial injustice and the transition team will continue preparing at full speed so that the Biden-Harris Administration can hit the ground running on Day One.”

In the US, the president will not be sworn-in until January 20 next year, giving Mr Trump over two months to pursue legal battles. There is also the possibility that President Trump might concede defeat if by the end of today Mr Biden wins all the outstanding states and is declared the winner.