What happens if Hillary Clinton wins the US Presidential Election and Donald Trump doesn’t accept the result?

OUTSPOKEN Republican candidate Donald Trump has long claimed he may challenge the result of the US presidential election if it doesn't go his way.

"I'll keep you in suspense," he has repeated when asked whether he would accept tomorrow's all important result.

His controversial comments have been supported by his campaign team, but they go against an important tradition in US politics that the loser recognises the result and congratulates his or her rival.

For 240 years, no matter how bitter the campaign, the vanquished candidate has always swallowed their pride and publicly conceded.

But Mr Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and his adviser, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, insist the candidate's stance is not unprecedented.

Mr Giuliani said while the peaceful transfer of power was important, so too was the "accuracy of the election".

He said that if the result was close, the campaign just would not accept it.

He compared the situation to the contested result in 2000, when George W Bush beat Al Gore.

"Al Gore didn't accept it, did he? He went to court over it," he said.

So what can Mr Trump actually do?

Mr Trump's options are pretty limited. If the result is too close to call he will have the legal right to contest the outcome and demand a recount.

If he believes that electoral fraud has taken place, he can also issue lawsuits against officials in any of the states he suspects of wrongdoing.

In the event that Mrs Clinton wins with an overwhelming majority, Mr Trump can refuse to accept the loss but there is nothing he can actually do to alter the outcome.

While refusing to concede may not chnage the result, it would definitely tar the reputation of the US democratic and political system.

Won't refusing to concede just whip up trouble?

The billionaire commands a loyal following, many of whom already believe he is an anti-establishment figure being victimised by the 'political elite'.

He has already been accused of whipping up conspiracy theories and inciting violence among his supporters.

And he infamously sparked controversy after suggesting "Second Amendment people" (gun owners) could target his political rival.