Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the final days of the campaign. (Photos: Tasos Katopodis and Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images)
And everything else you need to know about timings, where and what to watch in our user’s guide to the Trump v Harris big day(s).
For the latest on election day in America, jump on the live updates here.
One ancient candidate ejected after a catastrophic debate performance, another shot in the head in a horrific, failed assassination attempt. Racism, misogyny, plausible claims of fascistic tendencies. Many, many cats – whether owned by ladies or (falsely claimed to be) eaten by immigrants. Yes, it’s been a quiet time over recent months, with the gusset of democracy in the free world stretched to splitting point, and at last we are at the end. Or the end, at least, of the campaign, which marks the start of things unknown
Say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light? Yes, it’s election day in America, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vying to become president. Does that star-spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? We’re about to find out. Here’s everything you need to know.
When is election day in America in New Zealand?
A clumsy question, but an important one. Federal elections are held in the United States on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Which in effect means the first Tuesday in November unless that Tuesday is November 1.
New Zealand, however, is advanced. That is, we’re currently 16 to 23 hours ahead of the various slices of the US. Which means, essentially, in New Zealand, the US election is the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
So America’s election day, Tuesday November 5, happens almost entirely on Wednesday November 6 in New Zealand.
When do the first polls close?
Polls close in parts of Indiana and Kentucky from noon in New Zealand on Wednesday (6pm Tuesday Eastern Time), but 7pm ET (1pm on Wednesday in NZ) is the time to set your alarm for the first polls closing across six states. Among them is the swing state (AKA “battleground seat”) of Georgia, with its 16 electoral college votes.
And the other swing states?
In North Carolina polls close at 7.30pm ET (1.30pm NZ Wed), with Pennsylvania and almost all of Michigan at 8pm ET (2pm NZ). Wisconsin and Arizona: 9pm ET (3pm NZ). And in Nevada the polls slam shut like a pawn shop grill at 10pm ET, or 4pm on Wednesday afternoon in New Zealand.
What’s the latest polling in those swing states?
At time of publication the polling average (per 538) has Trump ahead by a whisker in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina and Harris by a wafer in Michigan and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania – which would be the deciding factor if the numbers above were to bear out along with all the other polling averages – is all square.
Though almost all the focus has been on the seven states, others could swing. For example, a poll (by a gold-standard pollster) in Iowa on Sunday threw the cat among the cornfield pigeons by suggesting Harris had a three-point lead in the state Trump won in 2016 and 2020.
When will the first states be called?
The first calls are likely to come in early afternoon on Wednesday in New Zealand, but these will be safe states – considered safe territory for one or other candidate. As for the swing states, which are expected to determine the overall result, should, say, North Carolina or Georgia break overwhelmingly in one direction or another, it’s possible they might get called mid-afternoon but don’t count on it. We’ll come back to all this in a bit.
Can I watch the election on TV or streaming in New Zealand?
Yes you can. If you’re a Sky subscriber you can (package permitting) tune in to CNN, Fox News, BBC News or Al Jazeera. The latter is also on Freeview.
For something different, a Rest Is Politics podcast supergroup, Alastair Campbell, Rory Stewart and Anthony Scaramucci, are marathon livestreaming results on YouTube from the US alongside stablemates Marina Hyde (The Rest Is Entertainment) and Dominic Sandbrook (The Rest Is History).
And will there be any liveblog coverage of the election day?
Donald Trump watches a video featuring Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in October. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
How soon could we know the result?
If it was quickly apparent that Trump was winning in all seven swing states (and polling guru Nate Silver says there’s a 20%-plus chance he does that), experts could be ready to announce President Trump 2.0 by the end of the working day in New Zealand on Wednesday. Trump, needless to say, could declare himself the victor even if it’s a long way from assured.
And how long could it take to get a result?
Plenty of experts have warned that this one could really drag out. The rules on counting ballots differ around the country. In Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, for example, counting of early votes cannot begin until election day. With reports of plentiful early voting in this race, that could push things back. Pennsylvania is broadly considered the most critical of the swing states. In 2020, it took four days for the networks to have enough information to call which way those previous electoral college votes (then 20, now 19) were going. It was only then they were confident enough to call the election result as a whole.
And given how close and definitive it and the other swing states may be, recounts could drag out in hours and days. Next come the lawyers. It’s pretty much guaranteed that the courts will see a flurry of activity.
Key media outlets didn’t “call” the 2020 election for four days. In 2000, the presidency rested on the result in Florida, which came down to just over 500 votes out of six million cast; it took more than a month of legal battle and extended discourse on hanging and dimpled chads for George W Bush to emerge the winner.
Who “calls” the election, anyway?
Five television networks – NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and CNN – and the Associated Press newswire have teams of experts that they like to call “decision desks” or similar, all crunching the numbers from exit polls, advance votes, different booths and lining them up against historic data. They’ll project a result along the way and, when sufficiently confident that an unequivocal winner has emerged, they’ll “call” the state for the Democrats or Republicans. AP explains its process helpfully here.
It’s important to note that these “calls” have no formal authority. In 2000, pretty much all of them called Florida for Al Gore. The courts ultimately said that was wrong.
Campaign staff move a sign before a Donald Trump rally in Georgia. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Aren’t those networks influenced by their leanings?
The calling of elections is considered sacrosanct and impervious to any outlet bias or preference. That was best evidenced last time around, when Fox News called Arizona for the Democrats, shortly before midnight Eastern Time (at 5.20pm NZT) with more than a quarter of votes yet to be counted, prompting Trump and his camp to go nuclear. AP called it a few hours later; the others (NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN) didn’t call it for another nine days, by which point it was not material to the outcome.
So who officially decides the election result?
If there was a clear winner, you’d expect the loser to concede as soon as that clarity emerged. Don’t hold your breath.
As far as “official results” go, there is no national US organisation that oversees elections in the style of, for example, the NZ Electoral Commission. Instead, voters are strictly electing “electors”, who as part of the electoral college place their respective college votes in accordance with the people’s wishes. (In all but two states, all electoral college votes are winner-takes-all.)
Those who defy that norm are considered “faithless electors” – at the last election the supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional for these electors to exercise discretion.
Following a lengthy and esoteric process, Congress meets on January 6 to formally certify the result. That’s typically a formality, but you may remember 2021, when Donald Trump, contesting the result, urged Congress to deny Joe Biden’s victory. He was furious at Mike Pence, then vice president overseeing the vote, for refusing his instruction to “overturn the election”. That was the day a Trump-supporting mob, at his encouragement, stormed the Capitol.
What if it’s a draw?
Unlikely but not impossible, a 269-269 tie would trigger a “contingent election”. In that scenario, each state would get one vote, to be apportioned by members of the House of Representatives. The vice president would be chosen by a vote of the Senate.
One grimly tantalising outcome in such a situation would be a red-blue combo. If the current Congress balance were to remain the same, for example, you could see a President Donald Trump and a Vice President Tim Walz.
How could control in Congress change?
Substantially. In the House, terms are two years – so all 435 spots go to election this week. In the Senate, the term is six years, and 34 of the 100 spots are up for grabs. As it stands, Republicans have a small majority in the House and Democrats a slim advantage in the Senate, so both are in play.
The makeup of the two bodies in the legislative branch profoundly impacts a president’s ability to implement policy and raise funds.
Is there anything else on the ballot?
Yes, there is an eye-watering heap of down-ticket action, depending on where the voter happens to be. State legislatures. Governors (which gives us an opportunity to say gubernatorial – there are 13 gubernatorial races this week). Also up for election are would-be attorneys general, prosecutors, sheriffs and mayors – the lifeblood of American screen drama. Not to forget state courts, election officials and school boards. And a veritable truckload of referendums. Ten states have questions on the ballot involving abortion. A handful have drug law plebiscites. Elsewhere there’s everything from banning trophy hunting (Colorado) to a new state flag design (Maine). The best summary of it all is at Bolts.
With the most important election in a lifetime looming, The Spinoff asks a bunch of New Zealanders dotted around the US – some with names readers might know, some not – for a sense of what it’s like where they are.
Campbell Smith (music promoter)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I am in the liberal enclave of Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California. The bluest of blue states. The largest state, the least impactful vote. I’ve been here since 2007.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
There are many Harris/Walz signs. I haven’t seen a single Trump sign.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Anxious, fidgety. Equal parts fingers-crossed hope and doom-scenario fear.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
It is popular. Most of my friends have voted already.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
Yes. each presidential election since 2012, I’ve watched at one friend’s house in the Hollywood Hills. With the same group of very like-minded folks. We flick between CNN and Fox, like a lot of people do.
And… who do you reckon will win?
My heart says Harris will win. My head thinks it might be Trump. And we all kinda know that even if Harris wins on the night, that won’t be the end of it.
Early voting in LA on October 27 (Photo: Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)
Moko Tepania (Far North mayor)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I am on a US Department of State visit to the States for their International Visitor Leadership Programme. We’ve visited: Washington DC (blue), Springfield, Massachusetts (blue), Orlando, Florida (red) and Phoenix, Arizona (swing).
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
It’s been pretty 50/50. In most of the cities we’ve visited that are blue or red, there has probably been less visible signs. Here in Phoenix, the first swing state we’ve visited, the campaign does feel a lot stronger – both presidential candidates will be in the city tomorrow, which will be exciting. TV ads have definitely been strong for both camps everywhere we’ve been.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Most US citizens who we’ve spoken to, including local, state and federal leaders or officials, have described themselves as feeling anxious or uncertain. It seems pretty 50/50.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
Everyone who we’ve spoken to have commented that advanced voting has been incredibly popular across all of the cities we’ve visited so far. We were fortunate to visit an early voting centre in Fairfax County, Virginia on the second day that the centre was opened for early voting as observers. The line went out the door and wrapped around the building.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
I return home on November 4 and will probably be following the coverage passively – but I have almost a month’s worth of work to catch up on when I get home!
And… who do you reckon will win?
I don’t like Trump’s personal style of politics, but have no idea how America will decide!
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I’ve been in the US since April. It’s my second summer in a row that I’ve been based in Los Angeles and from here I’ve travelled to various cities in the US for shows and festivals. This year for instance I’ve been to Miami, Seattle and San Diego several times. If you’ve ever come to LA you’ll know that it’s very liberal and of course California is known as the USA’s “bluest state”. Democratic candidates have won by a significant margin here in every election since 1992.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
In my Los Angeles neighbourhood, I’ve only seen Harris/Walz signs in people’s front yards. I’ve not seen one single Trump sign. I also note a lot of people walking around wearing their Harris/Walz merch. A month or so ago I was in a small mountain town about an hour out of LA and there was a shop selling a lot of Trump paraphernalia (knives included) and MAGA hats… So clearly there’s Trump supporters there who stock up on this stuff.
I was watching the Dodgers play the Yankees and win the World Series on a big screen in Hollywood last night. It was free to the public and many whaanau were gathered around watching, so it was very wholesome and energetic. Lots of political ads played out during the game, including a really inflammatory transphobic Trump campaign one. It’s wild knowing how it’s possible to broadcast such hateful speech on national TV but anyway, one lone guy started cheering. It was followed by a very awkward silence and death stares from the rest of the crowd.
I also went and watched a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show the other night. Jimmy’s been doing these brilliant monologues roasting Trump and he was of course in fine form the night I went. The audience loved it! Trump didn’t. Just google “Trump, Jimmy Kimmel” for the subsequent results.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
There’s definitely a sense of anxiety in the air but because of the Dodgers winning the World Series last night there’s a real feeling of excitement and LA pride. It’s also Halloween today so everyone’s busy planning their costumes or decorating their yards for trick or treating. Next week will no doubt be a different wairua.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
I will absolutely be following the coverage. Some friends of mine are Democratic Party members and have taken time to explain to me the complexities of the voting system here in the US, so I’m hoping I’ll get to koorero with them on election day.
And… who do you reckon will win?
I feel we have to believe that Kamala will win because to contemplate the other possibility is just too much.
Theia (Photo: Supplied)
Sylvia Knutsen
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I live in Brooklyn, NY. I have lived here for five years but lived in NYC for 13 years in total. New York State is a blue state.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
The neighbourhood I live in has generally been considered a Republican stronghold, but that has seen some change over the years as more diverse populations have moved into the area. Many years ago, it used to be called Little Norway, due to the large number of Norwegians that lived in the area, now it’s home to NYC’s largest Palestinian population. So things have changed, but there is still a strong old school New York population here too.
I have not seen a lot of signs for Trump or Harris in the neighbourhood if I am honest. But the few (literally maybe two or three) that I have seen were Harris signs – which I was very pleased/relieved to see. I have seen a few Trump bumper stickers dotted around the neighbourhood though and a few people walking around with Trump clothing on.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Heightened, is the word that comes to mind. There seems to be a heightened sense of anxiety, worry, fear, anger, but also a heightened sense of hope too. All very hopeful for a Kamala win!
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
As of 10/29/24 NY had received 1,381,913 early votes. I’ll be adding my vote this week, my first time voting in a federal election!
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
Yes I will be following it, watching from home. Usually flip around the different news sites (CNN, NBC etc), but stay away from Fox News. Also social media, hate to say it, but can usually find great news coverage on there too.
And… who do you reckon will win?
My hope is that Kamala Harris wins. I’m so over hearing about and from that man.
Duncan Wood
WASHINGTON DC, VIRGINIA
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I’m in Virginia in the suburbs of Washington DC, which is a blue state and a predominantly blue area.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
It’s split very evenly. I’d say 50/50.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Wariness on both sides of the fence! People commonly joke to me about moving to New Zealand if the candidate they don’t want to win is elected.
There is a feeling that this election in particular is a crossroads for the country, more so than in the past. There is also a sense of apathy from maybe 30% of people I talk to, who remark “Out of 330 million Americans, how did we get these two candidates?!”
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
I’m not too sure, I haven’t asked anyone about their intended method of voting.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
Of course, with bated breath! Switching channels between news channels on the couch at home (with a strong drink).
And… who do you reckon will win?
I hope Kamala Harris will win, but my gut tells me Trump will be elected.
Early voting in Brooklyn on October 29 (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Jess McAllen
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
I live in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve been here for five years. New York is a blue state.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
I’ve seen absolutely no Trump signs. I live in a leafy, very liberal neighbourhood. My neighbourhood loves a sign, eg Black Lives Matter or Her Body, Her Choice, so I see about 10 Harris/Walz signs when I go on my daily walks. The only Trump thing I’ve seen in the entire city is when I was in Manhattan on the same day as his Madison Square Garden rally. I saw a red “Trump truck” parked with no one inside. Oh, and when I was in JFK airport recently there were Trump chocolates at the departure store, with a picture of his face on top of a US flag, but there were also chocolates that said “Harris: Let’s win this”.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Really bad! I’m not sure people realise the extent that people here who would usually vote Democrat are really struggling with doing so because of what is happening in Palestine. In the past week, I’ve had three people tell me in an almost hushed tone that OK, yes, they are voting for Kamala, but only because they feel like they have to because of Trump. They are morally embarrassed to do so because of her/Biden’s inaction regarding Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza. Last election (2020), people were so excited and literally partied on the streets in NYC when Biden won but I think this year, either way, it’s going to be really sombre.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
Just like New Zealanders love the little orange man “I voted” stickers, people here do as well. They were even giving out Halloween-themed ones today. So I’d say, according to my personal and non-scientific Instagram, it’s pretty popular!
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
I will! Only because 2020 was my first US election and I was actually in the hospital so I kind of feel obliged to see one through. I am going to have dinner with my friend Allison at her apartment in Bedstuy and try to have a casual glance at the coverage vibe. We haven’t really decided what channels though. I just hope Hilary Barry somehow winds up on one.
And… who do you reckon will win?
I cannot touch that question at all. I genuinely have no idea!
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Heather*
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I’m in the swing state of Pennsylvania and have lived here for nearly 10 years.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
In my neighbourhood, you wouldn’t know we were in a swing state. It’s very much a blue bubble. Right now it’s a mix of Halloween decorations and Harris Walz signs, even a few old Biden signs still hanging around. I haven’t seen any Trump support.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Everyone is feeling anxious. I’m looking forward to it being over, but also I think regardless of the outcome on November 5 – if we even know the outcome – there’s likely to be even more turmoil over the next few months.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
I don’t!
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
For the sake of my general wellbeing I’ll try my best to avoid watching any coverage on election day. I think I’ll go for a long bike ride, watch some Great British Bake Off, and try not to check in online too often.
And… who do you reckon will win?
I genuinely have no idea. It seems too close to call. The enthusiasm and energy around the Harris campaign feels a lot like the Clinton campaign in 2016, and that didn’t end the way I thought it would. So I’m trying to be prepared for anything.
Voters line up to apply for their mail-in or absentee ballots on October 29 in Pittsburgh (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Jason*
BOULDER, COLORADO
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
We live in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is quite far left and a definite blue city. The state of Colorado is Blue due to the majority of the population living in the capital Denver and other cities. The rural areas of Colorado are red. As you can see from the graph below it used to be a red-leaning swing state but from 2008 onwards it has become pretty solidly blue.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
In Boulder it would be 99% Harris. Very occasionally you see someone at an intersection holding a Trump sign and very very rarely you might see one on a lawn.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
Depression and disbelief that it is a remotely close race. Most people in this highly blue area can’t understand why people would vote for someone that has had so many previous staff members come out and say they are totally unfit to be president. It feels like a choice between a psychopath and someone sane, rather than blue vs red.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
As of eight days ago, 635k of the nearly 4 million active registered voters in the state have returned a ballot. This is only about half what was received at the same point four years ago in 2020 but that was probably due to the Covid restrictions in 2020 or the general mood of people being nervous to leave their houses because of Covid.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
I think just on the New York Times app. We don’t have a TV and I am not going to go to a friend’s house or pub to watch it.
And… who do you reckon will win?
Unfortunately I think Trump might win. Things look so tight in the polls in the swing states and the polls have under estimated his support the last couple of elections.
An anti-Trump protester in New York City (Photo: Jack Baker-McNamara)
Jack Baker
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Where do you live/are you based currently and how long have you been there? Are you in a red, blue or swing state?
I’ve been in New York for just over a month. Before moving up here, I was in Florida, a red-leaning swing state.
Are there more Trump signs or Harris signs in your neighbourhood? Can you give us a rough ratio?
In New York, I’ve seen zero signage for either candidate. It’s like there’s a law against political advertising here. In reality, New York is blue, so pouring money into advertising would be futile. However, in Orlando, Florida, people wore political slogan tees like Disney merchandise. Republican billboards loomed over every highway. I’ve heard there have been viscerally transphobic anti-Kamala advertisements on television. Although there was a surprising amount of HARRIS-WALZ promotion, Republican signs dominated at a ratio of 7:3.
Tell us about the Trump rally you went to… What did you see/hear? Was there anything that stood out to you, and what brought you there?
Morbid fascination led me to the Trump rally. The American ability to be stupid is supremely underestimated. I needed to see the cult-like phenomenon in person.
The main demographic was leathery-skinned white people, half in formalwear, the rest in America First graphic tees. Several streets closed, but that wasn’t enough: Republicans and libertarians clogged every footpath in a mile radius. On some roads, Trump supporters moved fast and erratic like disturbed fire ants. Other streets were cemetery-still, the crowds hypnotised, waiting for their hero.
There were as many Israeli flags as there were journalists. There were more journalists than protesters, but the protesters made themselves known. Behind every street interview, they held single-word signs: “RAPIST”, “PSYCHOPATH”, “FASCIST”, “NAZI”. A teenage boy played ‘American Idiot’ on his guitar as a woman prayed for America’s salvation. Youth with coloured hair paraded flags – one read “DON’T TREAD ON MY UTERUS”. Another had Hitler’s face superimposed over Trump.
A surprising number of Trump supporters had thick, non-American accents. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but they wore the same red hats as everyone else. A group of men with cerebral palsy held “MASS DEPORTATION NOW” signs. Hundreds of other people rolled through the streets on wheelchairs too, all blinged out in Trump merch.
If you observed the average rally goer long enough, you’d see the same sadness you and I carry. They bite their lips in fear. They believe this election will bring the end of democracy. They want nothing more than to protect their loved ones. Their worries are hidden behind patriotism, but still, their hands tremble.
I left the rally early. At the train station, a man in a tattered blazer had lined a walkway with Christian signs, one reading “HELL is a REAL PLACE.” He noticed me staring at him, tapped his microphone, then shuffled towards me. “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?” he preached through microphone feedback. I smiled and wished him luck. I felt too hollow to get out of bed again that evening.
How would you describe the mood where you are as the election approaches?
There’s deep sadness and fear. Few young people move to New York to converse about politics, other than a handful of passionate students. The transplants I know are escape artists, they’ve fled their conservative hometowns and avoid the dull weight of daily struggles by partying – they want to escape this election cycle too. Eighteen to 25-year-olds seem more concerned about DJ lineups than the election. But the party-girl facade is tissue-thin. People feel guilty for not being able to help those in need. They’re appalled by their leaders’ apathy, terrified for the future of Palestinian children. Faces on the train look more cynical and vacant than ever.
There’s a collective understanding that no matter what NYC locals do, little will change for them. The privilege of being a lower-middle-class person in New York City is that they’ll often be unaffected by changes in state rights. Gun laws are tight in NYC, and trains are reliable. Finding free STI tests, public parks or low-budget food is no challenge. But even with those privileges, hope for a better future has passed its expiry date.
Outside of my social circle, there’s been an increase of aggression and downright lunacy from all political standpoints. Last night, my roommate came home flustered – by his account, a stranger cornered him at the train station and shouted, “Fuck you, you white supremacist piece of shit; I can smell a far-right fascist a mile away.”
I witnessed a screaming match between two fashionable middle-aged women two days ago. They argued about whether the police should have more funding, but within minutes, they berated each other’s morals. A young man in a cinema lobby said he’s cried about the state of US politics every night this week. A woman at a dive bar told me the election has caused her uninterrupted suicidal ideation.
When I was in Florida last month, many of the queer people had already accepted defeat. They focused on the positives of what a Trump presidency may bring; “hopefully, he’ll send less money offshore”, “maybe gas prices will go down if he wins”, “perhaps accelerationism could be a good thing”, “I mean, my pockets were full when he was president”.
At a gay bar, I asked some acquaintances how they felt about the Trump rally. There was no table slapping or call to action; there was no movement at all. Eyes glazed over, and limbs went limp and a girl in black told me: “It’s pretty sad. We’re on the brink of history, and we’re fucked either way.” Lethargic laughter and pity smiles were all the group could muster. The only unity the American government can bring is a shared sense of detachment.
Do you have an idea of how popular advance voting has been where you are?
I know about 10 people who have voted early. Their main reason was to dodge the crowds and crazies. As marginalised people, they’re concerned for their safety this election season. From the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, 2017, to the January 6 Capitol riots, displays of white supremacy have only intensified. Americans live in a subconscious state of fight or flight. When will the next act of domestic terrorism happen? Who will it harm? Will the police protect or arrest me if I’m targeted? Those questions are why many of my friends are staying home on election day.
A close friend left New York to vote early. She returned to Virginia, her hometown, because her vote “matters more” there. She was unaware that you could vote early until this year. Her primary reason for doing so was to save the money and time of canvassers.
A friend overseas voted early, as an absentee. The process involved printing out a ballot, photographing her vote, and sending it via email. The North Carolina voting portal was down when she first tried to vote online. She couldn’t find information about which file types are accepted. The experience left her feeling “unnerved” – technology felt unreliable and easily compromised.
Many people seem disinterested in voting altogether. Queer artists and party goers have given up on the two-party system. Both parties want to spend more on the military. They both want to criminalise homelessness. Some people have become single-issue voters, with no desire to support a third-party candidate, either. They will not stand for funding a genocide, even at the cost of their rights and freedoms. Besides the rare protester, no one I’ve met has wanted to vote blue.
Most discussions about early voting have been… memes. Foreigners have posted their international passports alongside voting ballots, pretending to have voted illegally. Most of the ballots are votes for Trump, as a critique of not needing an ID to vote. The memes lean into the conspiracy that Democrats have allowed mass illegal immigration to get more votes.
Will you be following the coverage on election day? What will you be watching, and from where?
On election day, I plan to people-watch somewhere crowded. I’ll wear my Kamala OutKast shirt. I’ll likely get overwhelmed and end up at a friend’s house instead. I’ll try to stay up to date on the election coverage so I can make jokes on my Instagram story.
And… who do you reckon will win?
I don’t want to jinx it, but my bets are on Hailey Welch (the Hawk Tuah girl) winning the election. Ideally Jill Stein in second place.
*Last name omitted or pseudonym used
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