Biden edges towards victory after winning key states as Trump threatens legal action

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing November 05, 2020 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Joe Biden has inched to [within six Electoral College votes of the 270 necessary to win the US presidential election]( after taking Michigan and Minnesota, two states key to Donald Trump’s surprise victory in 2016. The president’s route back to the White House now requires him to win all four of the battlegrounds of Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday afternoon, the Democratic former vice president celebrated receiving more votes than any presidential candidate in history and said he was “on path” to securing the Oval Office. His campaign also said that it was ready for a legal battle with Mr Trump after the president’s baseless claims of widespread electoral fraud. Both campaigns are fundraising for potential court battles in key states, with Mr Trump demanding a recount in Wisconsin where Mr Biden leads by less than 1 per cent. With the race still poised on a knife-edge, officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, [have been forced to close the state’s ballot-counting facility]( amid safety concerns for the media as supporters of Mr Trump - many of them armed - have reportedly gathered outside the building. But poll workers will continue to count ballots and report results amid the developing demonstration outside. “Staff at the Maricopa County Elections Department will continue our job, which is to administer elections in the second largest voting jurisdiction in the county,” the Maricopa County Elections Department tweeted in a statement late on Wednesday. The protesters, some of whom were waving Trump flags, had been chanting “Fox News sucks!” and “Count the votes!” for several hours. In the UK, England has joined countries across Europe in [entering a second coronavirus lockdown](, with orders to stay at home and avoid foreign travel where possible among the restrictions now in force. The measures came into effect at midnight on Wednesday - more than six weeks after the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) advised a so-called “circuit-breaker” lockdown, echoed shortly afterwards by Labour, to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. Hours earlier, all but 56 MPs approved Boris Johnson’s proposed set of measures during an often fiery debate in the House of Commons, as the prime minister warned some hospitals were already caring for more Covid-19 patients than during the first spike and daily fatalities neared 500. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Trump dispatches Giuliani to Pennsylvania to stop vote counting]( [Soho falls silent again as lockdown bites hospitality]( [Sainsbury’s cuts 3,500 jobs at supermarkets and Argos stores]( . Uncertain times, unrivalled clarity, unlimited access Enjoy 50% off Independent Premium for 12 months with this limited-time offer [Subscribe now]( . More news - [Analysis: As US reels over election, world could spin further out of control]( - [Mysterious radio signal is coming from our galaxy, scientists say]( - [Undercover police officers’ wives had lives ‘shattered’, inquiry told]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.