On the final day of voting in the American presidential election, Newstalk speaks to people from both sides to see what their biggest election issues are.

On a special election episode of The Hard Shoulder, coming to listeners live from the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel in New York City throughout the week, presenter Kieran Cuddihy spoke to reporter Josh Crosbie who is watching the action at polls across Florida.

The home of former president Donald Trump is a largely Republican state, with a majority of the population unafraid to show their support for the presidential nominee.

Polls in Florida are open from 7am to 7pm, with early voting and mail-in voting running for the past few weeks.

'End abortion ban' signage in Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

Josh Crosbie said more than eight million people “opted to vote early” in Trump’s home state.

“It's still very early days here, so we can only go by the polls,” he said.

“Statewide, Trump's team is confident that he'll have Florida in his pocket, but here in Palm Beach County, where he actually has his primary residence, things could be a little different, as there tends to be a stronger Democrat vote.”

Josh spoke to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link at her main office where “all the votes of the county” are starting to come in.

Outside of the offices, Josh said there are police cars and “wagons with Trump flags”.

Trump supporter in Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

Ms Sartory Link said they expect to start getting the first set of results at “about 7.15” and they will continue to come out for “probably an hour or two hours”.

7.15pm in Florida is approximately 1.15am Irish time.

“I think by 8.30 we'll have a very good idea - it won't all be in by then, but by 8.30 we'll have a very good percentage,” Ms Sartory Link said.

“Probably by 10, we'll have most of it.”

Ms Sartory Link said this election is “the worst” she has seen for “people with a lot of conspiracy theories” and “a lot of people intentionally providing misinformation”.

“We do a lot of voter education leading up to the election, just to give people accurate information,” she said.

Kamala Harris voters in Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

Outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, Josh said security will be “near lockdown” by tonight when watch parties will be taking place across the country.

Josh spoke with university students to hear their plans for this evening and where their votes are going.

“I’m voting Donald Trump because I believe that he is the right way to go for this country,” one male student said.

“I like what he's doing economically, and although I don't agree with him on a lot of other points that he's made, I believe that he is a much better candidate than Kamala Harris, who I do not agree with anything that she has been saying as of as of late.

“I also am backing Trump because of his collaboration with independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, who I was going to vote for had he still been in the race.”

The student will be attending the “Donald Trump private election party” as his “university politics club” ‘Turning Point USA’ was invited to attend.

“It's once in a lifetime experience, and I couldn't be more excited to attend,” he said.

Palm Beach, Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

Another male student said he will “probably be doing a watch party of a couple of friends”.

“I tried to go to get into the watch party that Trump's having in West Palm Beach, but I sadly couldn't get in there,” he said.

“[The watch party] is probably going to be in one of the apartment buildings [on a] huge TV.

“Prayer definitely is going to be going into all that.

“There's prayer that's going on at 6pm that God just really just intervenes with this election.”

Trump supporters in Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

A female student also in Palm Beach said she voted for Trump because her “grandpa is a veteran” and she goes “with his sides of what he does for the veterans”.

“As a Christian, I'm voting for Donald Trump for his values and what he stands for.

“I will be going along to the poll watching.

“I think I'll just be there with a MAGA hat.”

More American Presidential Election coverage to come throughout this week.

Main image: Polling station queues in Florida. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk