US Election Night: Electoral college count

PIC: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump celebrate early results during an election party at a hotel in New York. (AFP)

UPDATED - As of roughly 0700 GMT Wednesday, Republican Donald Trump had won 244 of the 270 electoral college votes he needs to secure the US presidency, according to network projections.

His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton had 218 electoral votes.

Candidates are racing to hit the magic number of 270, which represents an absolute majority of the 538 members of the electoral college, with the number from each state based on its population size.

Eight states were still too close to call including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- all vital to Clinton's fading chances of victory.

The others are Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Minnesota and New Hampshire.

TRUMP (244)

Alabama (9)

Arkansas (6)

Florida (29)

Georgia (16)

Idaho (4)

Iowa (6)

Indiana (11)

Kansas (6)

Kentucky (8)

Louisiana (8)

Mississippi (6)

Missouri (10)

Montana  (3)

Nebraska (4 out of 5)

North Carolina (15)

North Dakota (3)

Ohio (18)

Oklahoma (7)

South Carolina (9)

South Dakota (3)

Tennessee (11)

Texas (38)

Utah (6)

West Virginia (5)

Wyoming (3)

CLINTON (215)

California (55)

Colorado (9)

Connecticut (7)

Delaware (3)

Hawaii (4)

Illinois (20)

Maine (3 out of 4)

Maryland (10)

Massachusetts (11)

New Jersey (14)

New Mexico (5)

Nevada (6)

New York (29)

Oregon (7)

Rhode Island (4)

Vermont (3)

Virginia (13)

Washington state (12)

Washington, DC (3)