Donald Trump notches up early wins in US polls

Republican Donald Trump has won in Indiana, Kentucky and Western Virginia, while Democrat Hillary Clinton was victorious in Vermont, projections today indicated as voting closed in several East Coast states.

With voting underway in many states, CNN reported that Hillary was leading Trump by 68 to 48 electoral college votes.

Polling has closed in Georgia, Virginia, Ohio as well as South and North Carolina, besides the aforementioned four states.

To win the presidential election, a candidate needs 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

CNN projected a win for Trump in Indiana, Kentucky and Western Virginia, while it projected a Clinton victory in Vermont -- results which are on expected lines.

Indiana has 11 electoral college votes and Kentucky has eight, while Vermont has three. Western Virginia has five electoral college votes.

Vermont is the home state of Senator Bernie Sanders, who lost to Hillary in the Democratic presidential primary while Indiana is the home of Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, who is its governor.

Meanhwile, television networks said that the result in Virginia, having 13 electoral college votes, was too close to call.

The state, which has a significant Indian-American population, is the home to Democratic vice presidential nominee, Senator Tim Kaine.

Meanwhile officials in North Carolina said the polls would be open for additional hours because of computer glitches.

Polls were also too close to call in Ohio and North Carolina.