Canadians from coast to coast gathered Tuesday with a mixture of excitement and anxiety to watch one of the biggest political shows on Earth: the U.S. election results.

Community centres, theatres, bars, restaurants and homes across Canada turned televisions to U.S. networks Tuesday as vote counts rolled in.

In Vancouver, about 230 people RSVP'd to a Democrats Abroad event at The Pleasant in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. The waitlist was closed hours before the event began.

It was just one of Democrats Abroad British Columbia Mainland's 10 events across the province. Several were in Vancouver, with others in Tsawwassen, Richmond, North Vancouver and Nelson. 

The B.C. chapter's chair Jennifer Phillips said events like these happening across the country are a nice way to bring people together. 

"They go to a different country, they don't know anyone. Gathering specifically for Democrats Abroad, it allows people to be in that community, make new friends, and talk about politics in a way that they might not be able to do elsewhere, even back home."

Phillips said there are an estimated 600,000 U.S. citizens living in Canada who are eligible to vote, with about 150,000 of those in the Lower Mainland. There are an estimated six million American citizens living abroad. 

Voter turnout outside of the U.S. typically tends to be between six and 10 per cent, she said. Democrats Abroad believe it's an awareness issue. But voters abroad can really make an impact. 

"Back home, we have been the margin of victory in key states. We saw that with Georgia and Arizona in 2020."

Speaking to Black Press Media just hours after the first polls closed, Phillips said early results are always going to look a little more red. 

"That's typical because votes that are counted in rural areas are easier and faster to count, so the 'red mirage' is a little bit of a false narrative. I think we're looking, for the rest of the night, things to really pick up and still be very optimistic."

Philips is originally from Texas and moved up to Canada about five-and-a-half years ago. For her, reproductive rights are the key issue for her, pointing to abortion bans going through the state and female mortality rates rise. 

"I'm hopeful that Texas will at least get purple. I know some outlets have called it, but I'm fingers crossed."

In Toronto, all eyes were glued to an onstage television at Lithuanian House community centre, where more than 100 people gathered for a Democrats Abroad event. With final opinion polls suggesting a close race between Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, attendees said they came to cheer on Harris even as some considered the chances of the race being called that night to be slim.

John Roberts, an American who has been living in Canada for nearly two decades, said he was feeling B次元官网网址渘auseously optimisticB次元官网网址� about a Democrat victory.

B次元官网网址淲hat brought me here tonight is really an opportunity to show my support for Kamala Harris tonight and the rest of the Democratic ticket,B次元官网网址� said Roberts, who cast his vote in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

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Kate Cohen, a Michigan voter who has lived in Canada for 26 years, said she was hoping to B次元官网网址渃elebrate or commiserateB次元官网网址� with like-minded people.

Cohen said she has voted in every election since moving to Canada.

B次元官网网址淚t is a right, and it is a privilege, and I donB次元官网网址檛 think anybody should throw it away or treat it lightly,B次元官网网址� she said.

At a pub on Saint MaryB次元官网网址檚 University campus in Halifax, the lineup for drinks grew longer as the evening progressed and results started to roll in. A cheer erupted from one booth as Trump was declared the winner in Kentucky, and more cheers followed from other tables as Bernie Sanders was declared re-elected in his Senate race as an independent in Vermont.

At McLeanB次元官网网址檚 Public House in downtown Montreal, televisions switched back and forth between sports channels and CNN as hockey fans in Habs jerseys mixed with politics watchers. A staffer at a microphone, warming up the crowd for trivia, drew a loud cheer when he asked how many were rooting for Harris. The same question, about Trump, drew silence and scattered laughs.

Bar customer Ian Campbell said he was feeling B次元官网网址渆xtremely worriedB次元官网网址� about the prospect of a Trump victory.

B次元官网网址淭rump can do some serious damage, not only to the United States, but serious damage to the world,B次元官网网址� he said, evoking the possibility of Trump pulling back from NATO and withdrawing support to Ukraine.

He said he is disappointed with both presidential candidates on some issues, including what he sees as a failure to help Palestinians in Gaza.

B次元官网网址淚 think that Harris is just a safer option and I dearly hope that she wins,B次元官网网址� he said.

In Ottawa, U.S. Ambassador David Cohen joined join politicos and diplomats at the Metropolitain Brasserie, just steps from Parliament Hill, where he delivered brief remarks.

The Canadian International Council is holding parties for its members in Ottawa and Victoria, with the B.C. event including a trivia contest about the U.S. election.

In Windsor, Ont., people gathered at the Bourbon Tap and Grill on Ottawa Street B次元官网网址� many of whom were involved in a door-knocking campaign to get Americans living in the city to vote.

About 600,000 people who are eligible to vote in the U.S. election live in Canada, the largest number outside the United States, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

One of those is Beth Boyd, who attended a Democrats Abroad watch party at The Pleasant in Vancouver. Boyd, who has lived in Canada for about 15 years, said she mailed in her vote B次元官网网址渁bout two months ago.B次元官网网址�

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Boyd said she is hoping for a Democrat win, adding that she hasnB次元官网网址檛 been to a Democrats Abroad watch party since Donald Trump won in 2016.

B次元官网网址淚 want a do-over to make it right this time,B次元官网网址� she said.