US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are heading toward a pivotal election showdown on November 5, one of the tightest contests in modern American political history.

With just a week to go before Election Day, the competition remains fierce in several crucial states where the candidates are nearly neck-and-neck.

According to the US Constitution, each of the 50 states conducts its own presidential vote, and under the complex Electoral College system, states allocate a certain number of "electors" based on their population. Most states utilize a winner-take-all approach, granting all electors to the candidate who wins the popular vote. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure 270 out of 538 electoral votes, making swing states—historically alternating between Democratic and Republican candidates—critical in determining the outcome.

This year, seven states stand out as battlegrounds, all classified as toss-ups within the margin of error. Here’s a closer look at each:

• Pennsylvania (19 Electoral Votes)
  Once a reliable Democratic stronghold, Pennsylvania has become a key battleground. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016 by 0.7 percentage points, while Biden reclaimed it in 2020 by a margin of 1.2 percentage points. Both candidates have been active in the state, focusing on issues like the decline of the manufacturing sector. Trump appeals to rural voters, while Harris promotes infrastructure investments to revive local economies.

• Georgia (16 Electoral Votes)
  Georgia became a focal point during Trump's presidency, particularly after he was indicted for election interference related to the state’s 2020 results. Despite this controversy, demographic shifts may favor Harris, who has been engaging with minority voters.

• North Carolina (16 Electoral Votes)
  Having voted Democratic only once since 1980, North Carolina is now viewed as competitive due to its growing and diversifying population. However, a scandal involving the Republican gubernatorial candidate has raised concerns among party officials, potentially complicating Trump’s campaign.

• Michigan (15 Electoral Votes)
  Once a Democratic bastion, Trump flipped Michigan in 2016, but Biden won it back in 2020, supported by union voters and the Black community. Harris now faces challenges in retaining support from the Arab-American community, which has criticized her and Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

• Arizona (11 Electoral Votes)
  Arizona was one of the closest races in 2020, with Biden winning by just 10,457 votes. Trump hopes to regain the state by capitalizing on frustrations with the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies, particularly given its border with Mexico.

• Wisconsin (10 Electoral Votes)
  After losing Wisconsin in 2016, Trump flipped the state in 2020. He sees it as winnable again, especially after his party's summer convention there. Harris's campaign, however, has turned the race into a competitive struggle.

• Nevada (6 Electoral Votes)
  Nevada has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004, but Trump believes he can change that, particularly with his appeal to Hispanic voters. Despite an early lead for Trump, Harris has recently narrowed the gap by promoting economic initiatives aimed at small businesses and inflation.

As Election Day approaches, these seven states will play a crucial role in determining the next president of the United States.