With the U.S. presidential election just around the corner, voters across the nation, particularly in battleground states, are collectively holding their breath. Arizona's Hispanic and Latino communities are specifically poised to have a significant impact on the outcome, as reported by ABC15. In Phoenix, voices from the 11th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival reveal a mix of hope and trepidation. "We’re no longer the minority, as we were a long time ago, we are the majority. The Latino vote is going to determine this election," Alexandra Olvera, a Maricopa resident, told ABC15.
Adding to the conversation, Mark Olvera shared with ABC15 his decision to cast his ballot for the former president, challenging the notion that minorities uniformly oppose Donald Trump. "It’s very silly because.. I mean, people are to going worry more than just somebody who is racist. They’re going to worry about their bills, if they’re going to get a house, their interest rates on a house," he explained. Voters like Ginny Truscott are so anxious about the results that they've planned to literally escape to the movies on Election Day.
Pennsylvania voters are similarly bracing for the election's endgame with varying strategies to manage stress. Danielle Trenney from Bellevue, notably anxious about the election, chose to decorate for Christmas in advance, an attempt to steer her family's focus away from the tension. "Just trying to pacify the anxiety," Trenney said in a statement obtained by Reuters. Others, like retired graphic designer Jennifer Bunecke, plan to vote for Trump but have grown exhausted by the campaign chaos, finding solace in the simple act of reading pastry recipes.
As Election Day looms, fears of unrest post-election seem to be a common thread among voters Reuters has spoken to. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Harris supporter in Detroit, expressed concern that Trump's rhetoric could spark violence. "It's scary," she shared with Reuters. Meanwhile, voters support Trump, like 68-year-old Lillian Hall from North Carolina, voiced fears that Harris losing could lead to rioting. This anxiety mirrors the results of a Reuters/Ipsos poll, suggesting concerns about extremist violence are shared broadly across the political spectrum.
Attempting to navigate this uncertainty, some voters are focusing on action, like Shirley Easton who has been mailing postcards to encourage others to vote for Harris. In contrast, Lisa Fields from Manhattan is knocking on doors for Trump, hoping the election will somehow bring unity. "We need to come together for the greater good. And I'll focus on that the day after, because while I disagree with people voting the other way, they're entitled to and that's the beauty of America,” Fields explained in her conversation with Reuters. And as ballots near their final count, others, like Gillian Marshall, an Arizonan Lyft driver, are preparing for a long night—armed with anxiety medication and wine. "I just want this nightmare to be over," she told Reuters. America is watching, waiting, and amidst the anxiety, hoping for resolution.
