The Manoa Community Church transformed into a polling station in Havertown, Pennsylvania. (Credit: Nour Braidy/OLJ)
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Manoa Community Church, an evangelical Presbyterian church in Havertown, Pennsylvania, was turned into a polling station. At 10 a.m., about a dozen residents from this Philadelphia suburb came to vote. Their vote is crucial, as Pennsylvania is a swing state, a key state — along with Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina — that could determine the outcome of this razor-thin election.
On the church’s lawn, small signs are planted in the grass. Some remind voters that with Republican candidate Donald Trump, Americans will "pay less in taxes" and "have safer borders."
Jim, 44, stands at the door, handing out brochures supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. “Trump wants to take our country back to a time when many Americans didn’t have full rights and freedoms, but we believe in a better future that makes room for all Americans,” reads one of the brochures.
“I’m voting for Harris because I care about my daughter’s future. I want to make sure my kids grow up in a fair country for everyone,” Jim shares. Regarding Gaza, he adds, “I’m certain Trump won’t make things better, only worse. I hope Kamala and the Democrats find a way to achieve a cease-fire.”
Stephanie came to vote with her 5-year-old daughter. “I’m voting for action against climate change. Kamala Harris supports ambitious climate measures and a shift to renewable energy, while Donald Trump downplays the urgency,” she explains.
“I don’t trust the Republicans.” She continues, “As for the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, although it worries and interests me, I think it’s a complex topic, hard to fully understand even by following the news.”
A man in his fifties, wearing red and sporting a gold chain around his neck, exits the polling station. “I voted for Trump because I’ll pay less in taxes with him,” he assures. “Plus, he’s taken a tough stance on immigration, which I think is essential to ensuring the safety of our communities.”
Asked about the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, he responds, “I’m not too concerned with foreign policy; I just want someone who prioritizes the United States and puts our needs above everything else. We have enough problems at home, and I trust Trump to focus on solving them instead of getting tangled up in international affairs.”
With more than 82 million Americans having already voted early, it’s impossible to know whether it will take hours or days of counting to decide between the vice president and the former leader. The result will be historic in any case: either America will elect a woman president for the first time, or it will re-elect a former president with a criminal conviction and facing numerous legal proceedings.
