Show caption ‘This entire presidential campaign has been a demoralizing debacle, and I can’t wait until election day.’ Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA Opinion US voters in their own words: 'This campaign has divided us in ugly ways' From Florida, Vermont and Colorado; black, white, Latina; Trump loyalists and Hillary devotees – Guardian readers from across the spectrum on election 2016 Mon 31 Oct 2016 07.00 EDT Share on Facebook

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‘We must remember the richness immigrants have brought’



Monica, 51, Vermont, voting for Hillary Clinton

I live in a tiny rural town in Vermont. The daughter of Peruvian immigrants who overstayed visas back when it took just a few months to get a green card; I’ve worked hard to feel like I belong anywhere. I found my way to Vermont as a young adult and no other place feels like home. I am voting for Hilary Clinton, although my preference would have been Bernie Sanders. Hillary’s approach seems to be informed by her years of experience and that’s what I want in a president – someone who is intelligent and informed about both policy and process. A Trump presidency would be a “disaster” as he’s so fond of saying. I get no sense that he has any knowledge of, or worse, the desire to learn about, the issues at all. That’s truly frightening. Trump would further divide our nation – his rhetoric alone has deepened existing divides. We must remember the richness immigrants have brought to our country. The first priority of the next president must be to unify us, as nothing can be accomplished in the current atmosphere. This has been the ugliest campaign I have witnessed in my 51 years. Trump’s campaign has been embarrassing and dangerous and it will take a while for the nation to recover. One good thing that has come of this cycle is that it has woken people up from apathy and encouraged them to make their voices heard at the ballot box – for better or worse.

‘We have become a politically correct society to our detriment’



Anne-Marie, 69, New Jersey, voting for Donald Trump

Born in 1946, the first year of the “baby boom”, I am a second-generation American. I earned my BA, MEd and MA in, respectively, history, teaching and journalism. Most of my working life was in publishing. I have been alone since my divorce some 40 years ago. My views do not fit any one party, and my voting history is mixed. I have voted for Democrats and Republicans, and I threw away a vote on Ralph Nader in 2000 because I could not vote for either of the main candidates. I will vote for Donald Trump. He might not change this country – Congress can obstruct a president, as it has been doing since 2008 – but if he could, it would be in directions I support: defeating Isis, strict(er) immigration, encouraging businesses to stay or return here, a much better relationship with Russia, and the disestablishment of the politically correct society we have, to our detriment, become. A president’s priorities should be protecting the American land and people, and promoting the general welfare – here, stateside. I have found the campaign absolutely horrid. The only good thing about election day is that it ends the campaign.

‘Trump’s misogyny, racism and general ignorance astound me’



Wendy, 63, California, voting for Hillary Clinton



I’m 63 years old, a Democrat, and a retired registered nurse. My husband of 36 years is a retired teacher. We live in Panorama City, a working-class suburb in the San Fernando Valley. This election is the worst I’ve ever seen, and I lived through Watergate and the Vietnam war. Donald Trump’s misogyny, racism and general ignorance astound me. I’m worried that Russia’s attempt to influence the outcome of this election in Trump’s favor might yet succeed. I don’t know who I’m angrier at – Donald Trump for being a compulsive liar – or the press for letting him get away with it. Trump’s supporters chanting “Lock her up” are the worst. Hillary Clinton is not a criminal! We face serious problems with no easy solutions. Over 20% of our children live in poverty. Climate change is real. We have too many guns and not enough good jobs. Our son is unemployed – I don’t want Obamacare repealed – I want it fixed. Hillary has a plan for that. Hillary cares about people, about children and families. She’s a feminist who will appoint supreme court justices who will stand up for women’s rights. Especially if the Democrats take back the Senate, she can get things done. Even Trump conceded that she’s a fighter. This is a historic election and, yeah, I’m excited about it. I didn’t think a woman president would happen in my lifetime. On November 8th, I hope we will elect Hillary Clinton as the first woman president of the United States.

Pumpkin portraits of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump by Disney artist Joseph Yakovetic, on Hollywood Blvd, 27 October 2016. Photograph: David Livingston/Getty Images

‘I will remain apprehensive until she is president-elect’

Sarah, 28, Florida, voting for Hillary Clinton



I’m a third-year medical student living in Brooklyn, NY, voting by mail as a Florida resident. My vote this year is unequivocally going to Hillary Clinton. There is a vocal proportion of Clinton voters who make no secret of their reluctant support, whether grudging Bernie Sanders advocates, or voters of any persuasion who oppose Donald Trump only marginally more than they do Clinton. Despite having backed Sanders myself, I take a less noncommittal position: Clinton, far from being the “lesser of two evils”, is a remarkably qualified, intelligent candidate whose views largely mirror my own, a stark contrast to the unsympathetic view of her character that is frustratingly widespread. Her proposed policies demonstrate forward thinking that would enable the United States to stand upright as a respected model among nations. I anticipate with hope the improvement of the Affordable Care Act to make healthcare universally affordable, the push to end gun violence, the increase in police accountability, the reform of our prison system, and a social promotion that advances race relations, LGBT rights and gender equity. None of these changes can be expected under the influence of Donald Trump, who sees the truth as tractable, promotes his sexism and narcissism as assets, and in the end, is excessively volatile and unprincipled. It’s embarrassing that Clinton, whose political competence is nigh unparalleled, holds only an uncertain majority over his farcical campaign. While the current poll aggregates are tentatively reassuring, I will remain apprehensive until she is confirmed as president-elect after election day.

‘Washington is offering no choice besides disaster’



Geno, 37, Pennsylvania, voting for Jill Stein

I’m in that middle class suffering from decades of neoliberalism – involuntarily in debt, in a dead-end job because of health coverage and few options. My household can eat and pay bills most of the time, so we’re luckier than some, but doing much more is a rare treat. The nation needs living wages, progressive taxation, universal healthcare, renewable energy, an end to US aggression, and investment in our future instead of the already-rich. Society should support people over profit. The most wretched excuse for a campaign in our lifetimes has only promised the opposite. The major parties offer a deranged rightwing sociopath provoking global war or a reality-TV buffoon with no actual policy, both of them hopelessly corrupt and staggeringly incompetent. Reinforcing Bush-Obama corporatism isn’t an option. Libertarianism is suicidally shortsighted. We need a progressive administration that’ll keep the grassroots engaged in fighting for constructive, sustainable goals. That’s why I’m voting Jill Stein. It’s already too late to prevent a president Clinton; that’s what the establishment wants and that’s what it’ll get. Of course Trump never had a chance – he’s only there to scare us towards Hillary. No thanks. I won’t throw my vote away on a felon and war criminal. I’d rather affirm policies I actually support. The alternative is staying home, but I’d rather send a message rejecting business as usual (hopefully amplified a little in a swing state). Washington is offering no choice besides disaster. Our first duty is to refuse to be complicit or legitimize it.

‘I’m not so much with her as I am against the fascist Donald Trump’



Chris, 50, New York, voting for Hillary Clinton



My name is Christopher; I am a gay African American illustrator and comic book artist living in New York City with my husband who is an Episcopal seminarian. As a Bernie Sanders supporter, allow me to make my position crystal clear: I’m not so much with her as I am against the fascist, racist and misogynist Donald Trump. I would love to have another choice, but unfortunately, with Jill Stein polling even worse than Gary Johnson I’m forced to be pragmatic and vote for Hillary Clinton. Liberal supreme court nominations; banking, healthcare, student loan and immigration reform; increasing living wages, honest discussions of the true effects of mechanization of labor, infrastructure revitalization, climate change, federal enforcement of police reform … these should be presidential priorities. Will they be under a centrist Clinton administration? Doubtful. Still, it is my sincere hope that the more progressive side of the Democratic party will apply the appropriate pressure. This entire presidential campaign has been a demoralizing debacle, and I for one can’t wait until election day. I’m just going to need a shower or two to scrub off the stink after leaving the voting booth.



Bernie Sanders answers a question about college affordability during a Clinton campaign event in Durham, New Hampshire, on 28 September 2016. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

‘Had Sanders won the primaries, I wouldn’t be writing this’

Dan, 59, California, voting for Donald Trump

My name is Dan and I’m an older, white, middle-class male who intends to vote for Donald Trump. But I didn’t start out that way. Although I’ve been a Republican since registering to vote at age 18 I switched to the Democratic party this year in order to vote for Bernie Sanders in the California primary election. Had Sanders won the Democratic primary I wouldn’t be writing this little essay and I would most definitely not be voting for Donald Trump. Let me be clear – I’m not voting for Trump because I like him. I’m voting for Trump ’cause I like Hillary Clinton even less. I don’t think policy positions matter much in a presidential election. Presidents don’t actually get to direct much policy. What matters most to me is leadership. The ability to lead a large organization and inspire those being led. In this respect both candidates have serious liabilities. But Hillary’s appear to be the far more serious breaches of integrity. From her early days on the Nixon impeachment issue to her operation of the state department she has left behind a taint of corruption at the highest levels of government. We are already hearing of the rumblings of disorganization and discontent in both the state and justice department as a result of her corrupting influence. The priority of a president should be to manage the immense federal bureaucracy and inspire citizens. Hillary has proven herself to be singularly inadequate to the task.

‘I’m a Mormon Republican voting for Clinton’

David, 43, Colorado, voting for Hillary Clinton



I’m a westerner, having lived and voted in Utah, Nevada and Colorado. I’m educated, with two postgraduate degrees. I’m also religious, having been Mormon all my life. I’ve been a registered Republican since my first voting experience in 1996. I’m voting for Hillary Clinton. Or, to put it more precisely, I’m voting against Donald Trump. The most important factor for me in voting for any public office is character, and I think it is obvious that Trump has the worst character of any candidate I’ve ever seen. There are many very reasonable objections to Clinton, and I’m really not a big fan of hers, but I don’t think they come anywhere close to the magnitude of Trump’s deep moral flaws. I think Clinton is a very capable politician, and I like her experience in public service. I also think she’s quite moderate, which is what I consider myself to be. Presidents are important, but they can’t do all the things for which people often hold them responsible. I think she’ll do well at foreign relations. I think she’ll choose capable but moderate supreme court justices, and I hope that Congress will approve them. This has been a miserable campaign, not just because of the poor field of candidates and the disgusting rhetoric, but also because it has divided the citizenry in very ugly ways. I am voting early, by mail, and I look forward to having the whole thing finished.