US election: Where does the race stand?

The result of the US presidential election is hanging on the vote count in a handful of key states, with the race too close to call so far. 

Democrat Joe Biden has multiple paths to victory with his 264 electoral votes -- including Michigan and Wisconsin -- compared to 214 for President Donald Trump, who would need to take all the remaining states.

In order to win, 270 electoral votes are required. Those votes are divided up proportionately among the states.

As it stands, there are five states still left uncalled, including major prizes such as Pennsylvania and key small state Nevada, as well as Georgia, North Carolina and Alaska.

Much of the delay has resulted from a flood of mailed-in ballots due to the coronavirus -- and those types of votes have tended to favour Democrats.

If Biden's lead in Arizona holds, and he wins Nevada and its six electoral votes as expected, he will have 270 electoral votes and can claim victory.

Should Trump hold North Carolina and Georgia but lose Arizona, he must take Biden's home state of Pennsylvania as well as Nevada to win. Simply winning Pennsylvania -- or even Pennsylvania as well as Alaska and its three electoral votes, as expected -- will not be enough.

The paths to victory become murkier should some of the expected outcomes change.

Here is a summary of the situation:

Nevada

If Biden takes Nevada, it could be all over.

The Democrat is expected to win Nevada's six electoral votes, but the Western state that is home to gambling mecca Las Vegas remains too close to call.

With 86 percent counted, Biden had 49.3 percent to 48.7 for Trump.

State officials said Wednesday that further results would not be known until Thursday.

Pennsylvania

Perhaps the state that could take the longest to declare a winner -- and one that could potentially decide the outcome with 20 electoral votes at stake.

With 86 percent of the vote counted in the industrial Rust Belt state, Trump was ahead with 51.4 percent compared to Biden's 47.3 -- but the president's lead was shrinking as the vote counting continues.

Remaining ballots are expected to favour Biden, who was born in the state.

Much to Trump's chagrin, Pennsylvania has decided to allow mailed ballots sent by Election Day but received up to three days afterward to be counted due to coronavirus complications. Authorities expect to complete the count by Friday.

But on Wednesday Trump's campaign said it was suing to halt the count, accusing electoral officials of prohibiting its "observers" from approaching closer to 25 feet (7.6 meters) to vote counters.

North Carolina

Trump appeared favoured to win North Carolina's 15 electoral votes despite a strong showing by Biden, but it remained too close to call.

With 95 percent counted in the southeastern state, Trump had 50.1 percent and Biden 48.6.

Mail ballots sent on or before election day can be counted until November 12.

Georgia

Biden performed unexpectedly well in the southeastern state that is traditionally a Republican stronghold, but Trump was still ahead -- though his lead was narrowing. The state has 16 electoral votes.

With 94 percent counted, Trump had 50 percent compared to 48.8 for Biden. US media were expecting an extraordinarily close race.

A final result was expected Wednesday or early Thursday.