Australians watching 'historical' US election

The presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has been one of the most historic and significant US elections, America's ambassador to Australia says.

Polls will close within hours across the US, with results to decide who will become America's 47th president to filter through later on Wednesday, Australian time, with a close contest predicted.

US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former Democrat president John F Kennedy, said the election would be among the most significant.

"This is an historical election, no doubt about it," she told Seven's Sunrise program.

"In terms of our foreign policy, and especially in terms of Australia which is our most trusted and capable ally, I don't think it will change the fundamentals ... no matter who wins, Australia will be the winner."

Who will become the next president will be decided in a handful of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, due to the nature of the US electoral college system.

Ms Kennedy said it had been reassuring to see a large voter turn-out, especially among young people.

"I have so much faith in the new generation. This election will matter more to them than anyone else," she said.

"We saw in 2008 my children got excited about politics because of Barack Obama, and now there is a new generation, certainly on the Democratic side, but certainly on the Republic side, that is excited about this, because it is really the first social media election."

As results start to come through, Australians will watch the outcome with bated breath.

The New York Times election needle, maps of the United States electoral college and vote count progress bars will illuminate screens, as Australians discuss the demographic intricacies of key US voting blocs in pubs across the country.

Democrats Abroad will host a watch party in Canberra, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia is inviting viewers to the Hawthorn Hotel in Melbourne and Republican supporters will flock to Sydney's Sanctuary Hotel for a "Trump re-election party".

The US election captures the world's attention in part because of the nation's cultural influence, United States Studies Centre Associate Professor David Smith says.

"For most Australians, in some sense, the US is our second country, even if we've never been there, and that's because we consume so much American media," he told AAP.

"But there's also something about American politics - it's such a spectacle.

"It is very big, there's so much money in it, it's got this big celebrity dimension to it, you've got the possibility of violence and the candidates say and do outlandish things to get attention."

But US politics also has significant flow-on effects for Australians.

Mr Trump's vice-presidential pick JD Vance is an outspoken pro-lifer, whose views emboldened far-right Queensland politicians to suggest winding back abortion rights and access ahead of the state's October election.

Transgender rights also featured in a key electorate during the 2022 Australian election as Mr Trump and other American conservatives whipped up a culture war around the issue.

While many Australians will be watching the presidential outcome with nervous excitement, others are ready for things to wrap up.

"Trump has dominated American politics for the last nine or 10 years," Assoc Prof Smith said.

"By now we are very used to this specific Trump-style of outrage after outrage, this constant torrent of lies that make it impossible for normal politics to function.

"A lot of people are just exhausted by all of this."