The two sides of the great divide in the United States are gearing up for the results of the most momentous election in our times.
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Democrats Abroad are planning to watch on two screens in the P.J. O'Reilly's pub in Civic in Canberra from 11am on Wednesday.
Organisers said they were were expecting about 100 people, some of them Australians and some of them American ex-pats.
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Politics students at the University of Canberra also planned to watch the results in the student lounge.
"It's the day we have all been waiting for," the meeting invitation said.
"The showdown between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is starting with election day. We will be debating, eating, drinking, and watching the results roll in all day long."
Unlike in normal, non-coronavirus times, there will not be a big party at the US Embassy on Moonah Place in Yarralumla.
But as the polls were about to open, Ambassador Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr talked of the election as "a great celebration of democracy".
He is a long-standing Republican, appointed as ambassador by President Trump, but currently, as a public servant, he is barred from participating in partisan politics during his tenure in Canberra.
Speaking at the US embassy, Mr Culvahouse said this was the first presidential election he hadn't participated in since 1976.
"The point that I want to make, and it's important to make, is that the alliance between the United States and Australia will remain strong and vibrant and forward-leading regardless of the outcome of the election," he said.
But he said support for the alliance was not as strong as he would like, particularly among younger Australians.
He said the embassy had "reached out" to them but conceded: "We have work to do regardless of who the next president is".
Mr Culvahouse addressed the fact that some Americans were preparing for violence but said that there had been rough elections in the past.
"The fact that people are planning for violence is concerning," he said.
He added, "but politics is a rough business, in part because we don't have compulsory voting - so, much of what is going on is to drive turnout".
"I don't think that there will be a replication of the worst days of the 60s and 70s. That's my hope and my prayer."
"We respect and honour and enshrine freedom of peaceful protest. Hopefully there will not be a tip and go over to violent protest or unlawful activity," he said.
"But I think it's probably a good thing people are getting prepared."
The polls start closing from 11am on Wednesday.
Justin Underwood who chairs Democrats Abroad Australia in Canberra said that Florida's results normally came though by the Australian evening. If Joe Biden wins Florida, he will almost certainly win the election.
If he loses, it could be a long wait for a final result, perhaps days. In 2000, the result in Florida and the election wasn't known for a month.
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
