AKIPRESS.COM - Donald Trump has secured 270 votes in the Electoral College to formally win the United States presidency.

Votes from Texas electors put Mr Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes, ABC reported.

An effort by anti-Trump forces to persuade Republican electors to abandon the president-elect came to practically nothing and the process unfolded largely according to its traditions.

That did not stop thousands of protesters converging on state capitols across the US.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!".

In Madison, Wisconsin, protesters shouted, cried and sang "Silent Night". In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, "Don't let Putin Pick Our President," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In November's presidential election, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a margin of nearly three million, however she only gained 232 electors after losing crucial swing states.

With nearly all votes counted, Trump had clinched 304 electoral votes to Clinton's 224, according to an Associated Press tally of the voting by 538 electors across the country.