US Elections: Americans Head to the Polls

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Nov 05, 2024

Above: People cast their ballots on the last day of early voting for the general election in Michigan at the Livingston Educational Service Agency in Howell, Michigan on Nov. 3, 2024. Image copyright: Jeff Kowalsky/Contributor/AFP via Getty Imagesstory last updated Nov 06

The Facts

American voters went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the Democratic candidate, Vice Pres. Kamala Harris, or Republican candidate, former Pres. Donald Trump, will be elected US president. Voters are also casting their ballots in local and state elections.
If Harris wins, she'll become the first woman, first Black woman, and first person of South Asian descent to become president. If Trump is re-elected, he will become the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland.

The Spin

Democratic narrative

A vote for Harris means a better future for America. When it comes to every issue, especially the economy, foreign policy, and immigration, Harris has promised to legislate from a position of consensus and reach across the political divide from conservatives to progressives. Trump, meanwhile, is a threat to the rule of law and the health of capitalism. To think that this man — who so clearly should be disqualified from office for being a convicted felon — remains so close to the presidency is a terrifying thought for the future of America.

Republican narrative

It's easy to vote Trump over Harris when you compare track records. Trump's presidency brought a robust economy, while Harris has been part of an administration that created rampant inflation. While the Southern border was safe under Trump, Harris' administration let illegal migrants enter unfettered. Mainstream media may side with his opponents and have engaged in a consistent attempt to frame him as a fascist villain, but in the end, Trump was, and once again will be, a president for the American people.