Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127K Texas votes

More than 96 million people have cast their ballots -- an early voting record.

Last Updated: November 3, 2020, 12:09 PM EST

On the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden had only hours left to make their closing arguments to voters in a contest both are calling the most important of their lifetime.

With more than 95 million Americans having already cast their ballots -- an early voting record -- time was running out for Trump and Biden to sway uncommitted voters.

Trump had five rallies in four states -- North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin -- as both candidates planned to barnstorm the states they deemed critical in a final full day of campaigning overshadowed by coronavirus cases rising in nearly every election battleground.

Biden went to Ohio and Pennsylvania, closing out the day at a drive-in rally with Lady Gaga in Pittsburgh. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, is also campaigning in Pennsylvania and finishedd her day at a drive-in rally with John Legend in Philadelphia. Their ticket's top surrogate, former President Barack Obama, campaigned in Georgia and Florida.

Vice President Mike Pence had a pair of rallies in Pennsylvania -- a state Trump won by one point in 2016 and one where a Democratic win this time would leave him with an exceedingly narrow path to victory -- before joining Trump on the trail in Michigan.

Nov 03, 2020, 2:28 AM EST

Trump grapples with losing at the final rally before election: “Can you imagine—the concept of losing to this guy...I’ll be so angry.”

At his final campaign rally of the 2020 election, President Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Monday night continued his disjointed and grievance-filled closing message, claiming his rival Joe Biden and President Obama were guilty of “treason” while at the same event mistakenly introducing rap star Lil Pump as “Little Pimp.” 

Trump took the stage in Grand Rapids just after midnight as he did four years ago when he ended his 2016 campaign in the same city on election eve.

“No, it's funny, though, I kept saying we have to finish off here, we have to do it. It’s just -- we can be a little bit superstitious, right?” Trump said. 

Trump entered tossing out red MAGA hats to the massive crowd in Michigan with very few wearing masks as Vice President Mike Pence awkwardly trailed the president clapping along. 

The president, who's speeches throughout the day at four other rallies felt like a final airing of grievances, seemed to grapple with the possibility of losing tomorrow.

“I can't believe this is even happening, it puts much more pressure on me running against a guy like this. Can you imagine—the concept of losing to this guy. You better get out there and vote tomorrow or I'll be so angry, I'll never come back, I’ll never come back,” Trump said. 

Trump also thanked his family Don Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump, who were in the crowd watching off-stage, telling them “words cannot express how proud you make me every single day. No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm very proud of you all.”

While adding, seemingly joking, “But if we don't win, I will never speak to them again.”

-ABC News' Will Steakin

Nov 03, 2020, 1:28 AM EST

Harris County reduces drive-in voting locations to protect votes

Chris Hollins, the county clerk in Harris County, Texas, announced Monday evening that, despite the favorable court ruling earlier in the day, all but one of the county's drive-thru voting locations will be closed on Tuesday.

Earlier Monday District Judge Andrew Hanen rejected a Republican effort to invalidate roughly 127,000 drive-thru votes cast in Harris County -- but said he would cease drive-thru voting on Election Day if the case is sent back to him due to his position that the "tents" where drive-thru votes are cast are not "buildings," where votes are required to be cast under Texas law.

As a result, Hollins announced on Monday evening that the only drive-thru location open on Tuesday would be the Toyota Center, home to the NBA's Houston Rockets, which Hollins says fits the "building" definition.

"I cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk," Hollins tweeted Monday evening.

"In order to allow for drive-thru voting on Election Day while ensuring that all votes will be counted, the only drive-thru voting center on Election Day will be at Toyota Center," he said.

Not long after Hollins' tweet, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals announced it had denied the injunction being sought to shut down drive-thru voting.

"It is ordered that appellants’ motion for injunctive relief to issue a preliminary injunction banning drive-thru voting on Election Day, November 3, 2020, is denied," the court said in its ruling.

The ruling opened up the possibility that the country could resume full drive-thru voting on Election Day, but there was no immediate word on whether officials would try to do that.

With a population of 4 million, Harris Country is the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous county in the United States.

-ABC News' Adam Kelsey

Nov 02, 2020, 10:26 PM EST

Biden wraps up in Pittsburgh

Biden’s final event before Election Day took place in one of the cities where his campaign began roughly 18 months ago: Pittsburgh. At the drive-in rally, he noted that both of the state’s NFL teams won this week and projected confidence on the eve of the national vote.

“The Steelers got a big win yesterday, the Eagles got a big win last night. So we can both be happy. And folks, I have a feeling we're coming together for a big win tomorrow,” he declared.

Biden spoke about a "full circle" moment with his holding one of his final events in Pittsburgh, which is also where his campaign held its first official event in April 2019 at the IBEW union hall. 

A fired up, and practically shouting, Biden gave an impassioned pitch to voters about their power to decide the election outcome. 

“Tomorrow's the beginning of a new day. Tomorrow we can put an end to a presidency that has left hard working Americans out the cold," Biden said. "Tomorrow we can put an end to a presidency that has divided this nation, and fanned the flames of hate. Tomorrow we can put an end to a presidency that has failed to protect this nation."

There's nothing, nothing that's gonna stop the people of this nation from voting, period. And when America votes, America will be heard. And when America is heard I believe the message will be loud and clear. It's time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home,” Biden added.

Lady Gaga speaks during a drive-in campaign rally held by Democratic U.S. presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Nov. 2, 2020.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

In brief remarks ahead of her performance, Lady Gaga also urged voters to head to the polls saying that turnout will be "crucial."

-ABC News' John Verhovek

Nov 02, 2020, 9:30 PM EST

Thousands lined up for Trump's final rally

Thousands of supporters lined up in the cold ahead of President Trump’s final campaign rally of the 2020 election cycle in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Monday night -- where he also ended his 2016 campaign. 

The scene at Avflight Grand Rapids -- where the president is set to speak at 11:30 p.m. -- was a familiar one for the president's rallies over the course of the campaign: Dozens of Trump 2020 flags blowing in the wind, food trucks and vendors selling unofficial shirts and MAGA masks. 

The line to get in was massive, with hardly any supporters wearing masks and with those at front saying they'd been waiting as early as 7 a.m.

-ABC News' Will Steakin

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