2020 Election
Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

2:52PM AEDT 3/11/2020, 10:52PM EST 11/03/202: Anxiety, tension, and a times, moments of hope. Citizens of the United States and people around the world are captivated today as the votes are slowly counted in what has become a nail-biter election. At the time of publishing, Joe Biden is leading with 131 points with Donald Trump edging closer with 108 points.

Images around the US today have shown voters in lines so long they snake around buildings and people waiting hours on end to place their ballot. Shopping districts across the country are boarded up and form post-apocalyptic scenes as the streets empty. Outside the White House however, a confused commotion of celebrations and protests are taking place as night falls.

READ: MAKING POLITICS PALATABLE: THE 2020 ELECTION BY NUMBERS LIVE FEED

Children, far too young to vote, are on the streets protesting. According to political commentators, it’s not a question of if, but when civil unrest implodes and over 3000 troops from the National Guard are on standby in selected states. Indeed, as the future of the country comes down to that magic number of 270, tensions are running extremely high. Take a look.

BARRICADES SURROUND THE WHITE HOUSE

2020 Election
03 November 2020, US, Washington: The building of the US Treasury Department can be seen behind the fence that provides extensive security for the White House on the day of the presidential election. Credit: Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images

businesses prepare for violence

2020 Election
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 03: Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

the US FLAG flies around the country

NEW YORK CITY, USA – NOVEMBER 3, 2020: A digital US flag on the One World Trade Center building on Election Day. Credit: Maria Khrenova \ TASS via Getty Images

historic numbers of voters line up AT POLLING BOOTHS

2020 Election
OWINGS, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: People wait in line to cast their votes at Northern High School, on November 03, 2020 in Owings, Maryland. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

SCENES OF CELEBRATION ARE ERUPTING ACROSS THE US AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WIN STATES

2020 Election
ATLANTA,GA- NOVEMBER 03: Supporters of the Republican incumbent candidate Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) wait at an Election Day event hosted by the Georgia Republican Party on November 3, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.

the national guard and armed police are rolled out in selected states to stem violence

2020 election
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 03: A Santa Paula Police Department armoured vehicle drives past boarded up designer stores on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

children join protests in a desperate bid against DONALD TRUMP

2020 Election
Tyrone Carter a former NFL player from Minnesota Vikings leads a group of kids who support presidential candidate Joe Biden take a knee and block the road near a polling place in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 3, 2020. Credit: KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images

protests occur in front of the white house

2020 Election
Anti-Trump demonstrators hold signs at Black Lives Matter plaza across from the White House on election day in Washington, DC on November 3, 2020. Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images