AUSTRALIANS in the United States are being told to prepare their exit strategies in case tempers flare as Americans head to the polls in one of the most bitterly divisive presidential campaigns the country has seen.

Security forces are being beefed up across the US and authorities are on high alert as tensions mount in the final hours of a fiery, months-long showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Anti-government militia and neo-Nazi groups plan to mobilise outside polling places to monitor for voter fraud, including by non-American citizens, while firearms sales have skyrocketed in the lead-up to the vote. Despite fears of violent clashes between Trump and Clinton supporters at polling places and in reaction to the results, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said its advice for Australian travellers in the United States remained at its lowest advice level. But Dean Van Es, chief executive of travel insurance provider Fast Cover, said Australians should stay out of US cities, avoid large gatherings and most of all keep their mouths shut on election day and as results rolled in. “US law enforcement is on high alert through this whole period so they are in some ways expecting something to happen, but it is very much an unknown, as there hasn’t been an election like this in a long time,” he told news.com.au. “If you can avoid the US, that would be the easiest way to stay out of it, but we would say regional areas are probably safer than cities. If you can’t get out of the city, hotels are probably a safe place to be if something happens because you can get food and could probably wait anything out inside. “Have a couple of exits planned, so if you do need to leave the city if something goes down, you know how you’re going to leave — and have a plan B if plan A isn’t available. “We’re also telling our travellers to keep a low profile generally, especially on election day and the days after. People don’t need to know your opinion. You’re a visitor to their country, so don’t stir anything up.” Mr Van Es said Australians caught in an unexpected incident in the US this week would be covered by insurance provided they didn’t knowingly enter harm’s way. He said Aussies should keep an eye on media reports for news of any incidents and avoid polling booths, religious places, pubs and bars and any place people were drinking. “If you are in a city we think over the election period it’s probably best not to do too much,” he said. “Stay away from rallies, marches, protests or any large gathering of people, even if it’s a peaceful march. Peaceful events can turn violent very quickly and have done in the past.” Mr Van Es compared this year’s tumultuous campaign to 1968, an election year marked by widespread race riots and the assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, as well as 2004, when more than 1800 people were arrested during protests against then-Republican nominee George W Bush. “There is precedent for trouble,” Mr Van Es said. “But this is kind of new ground, as we’ve never had an election like this before.” In a statement to news.com.au, DFAT said it continued to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in the US and to monitor the media and other sources for updates on travelling conditions. EXPECT THE STOCK MARKET TO REACT Travellers in the US are also advised to load up on cash to avoid a potentially volatile exchange rate when the market inevitably reacts to the outcome of the election. “We’ve seen a mix of speculation among economic forecasters around possible outcomes: some forecasters see downsides of a Trump win on the Australian stock market and the value of the Aussie dollar, as well as speculation about possible ‘relief rallies’ on US markets around a Clinton victory,” Travel Money Oz general manager Dion Jensen said. “US currency has long been viewed as an investor safe haven, and while the Aussie-to-US dollar exchange rate has been relatively stable up to now, we are warning customers the likelihood of volatility is high under the scenario that this is a closer race than expected, and also that it’s possible a victor may not apparent for some time. “Markets can react quickly to uncertainty and political surprises.” FIREARM SALES ARE SOARING The general mood of unease has been heightened by reports of a surge in sales of firearms in the lead-up to election day. Gun sales have jumped 17 per cent from September to October, and last month’s sales were 18 per cent higher than the same time last year, recent FBI background check data revealed. One of the country’s top gun manufacturers, Sturm, Ruger & Co, said it had seen net sales increase 34 per cent in the third quarter of this year, compared to the same time last year. “Stronger-than-normal industry demand during the [northern] summer [was] likely bolstered by the political campaigns for the November elections,” the company’s chief executive officer Michael O Fifer said in a statement. Gun ownership has been a key issue in the campaign. Voters have already been spotted carrying firearms at polling places, however gun advocates say they have not heard of organised plans for gun owners to make a show of carrying their firearms on election day. NEO-NAZIS MOBILISING OUTSIDE POLLING PLACES So-called volunteer “election observers” are reportedly planning to hold exit polls outside voting locations in response to accusations by Donald Trump the ballot will be rigged by the Clinton campaign, and amid conservative claims non-citizens would attempt to vote. Prominent anti-government militia and a neo-Nazi group have announced plans to send members to monitor for voter fraud outside polling places, triggering fears of clashes between these groups and voters. The National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist, neo-Nazi group, said it would dispatch hundreds of members to 48 states. Voting rights activists have said the menacing presence of these volunteer armies would affect voter turnout, especially among minority voters. Meanwhile, a number of schools across the US have decided to close on Tuesday over fears of possible violence as voters head to the polls. Ed Tolan, the mayor of Falmouth, Maine, where the local high school will be closed on Tuesday, said tension from the election was concerning and an increased police presence would be felt. “If anybody can sit there and say they don’t think this is a contentious election, then they aren’t paying much attention,” Mr Tolan said. Clinton, Trump cast their votes in NYC