Drop boxes opened across Michigan on Sept. 26, marking the beginning of widespread voting in the Midwestern battleground state.
As Election Day approaches, the race remains uncertain.
Lansing
The Michigan State Capitol and the Boji Tower stood prominently in Lansing, reflecting the city’s historical and architectural significance.
Further down the street, a boarded-up storefront and a visible homeless population illustrated some of the challenges facing Michigan’s capital.
Troy Amon and Ted Shiels, seated outside a City of Lansing office, shared their views on the candidates and the election.
Shiels expressed skepticism towards both major candidates.
They also expressed reservations about the widespread use of drop boxes and absentee ballots for voting, advocating for in-person voting instead.
Economic concerns weighed heavily on their minds.
John Artis, a retired prison guard, reminisced about Lansing’s past prosperity during the automotive boom of the ’80s.
Artis voiced his support for Harris and emphasized the need for unity and collaboration to address the country’s challenges.
He also shared a positive outlook on the local economy, suggesting solutions to improve Lansing’s conditions.
Luis Cabrera expressed worries about economic stability and inflation, revealing his support for Trump but indicating his intention to abstain from voting.
Waverly
At a mall near Lansing, Nick Rojas discussed his efforts to engage the Hispanic community on behalf of a nonpartisan organization.
The pre-med student at Michigan State University hopes to pursue a career as a physical therapist. The young Mexican American student, who personally supports Harris, has observed on social media that Latino voters may be leaning towards Trump. Voters he has spoken to often mention the economy as a top concern. Another student, Cassandra Villanueva, expressed concerns about stricter abortion policies. A retired pastor and Harris supporter named Jim mentioned his wish to hear more about gun regulation from the candidates. His wife, Sandy, supports affordable and universal pre-K and kindergarten education. Jim is pleased to see the Democratic Party rallying around Kamala Harris and believes that non-committed voters who oppose the Biden administration’s policies towards Israel should support Harris. However, a survey found that many Arab and Muslim American voters in Michigan favored Green Party candidate Jill Stein in a previous election.
In Dearborn, a city with a large Muslim population, signs in English and Arabic were seen outside businesses. The community is diverse, with residents expressing various political views. A voter named Ali believes the U.S. should spend less money abroad and plans to support a third-party candidate. In another part of Michigan, a Trump supporter undergoing cancer treatment expressed optimism about his health and concerns about rising prices. Another voter, Rita, spoke about her family’s legal immigration history and her opposition to illegal immigration. Hassan, who reluctantly supports Harris, commented on the candidates’ policies and described Trump in a negative light. In Grand Rapids, a Latino neighborhood showed support for Trump, including African American voter Mark Martin. “I’m concerned about the taxes,” he expressed to The Epoch Times, highlighting that he is a business owner specializing in moving parts for automakers.
Jorge Martinez, who was nearby, also voiced his support for Trump. “He’s firm on international measures,” he shared with The Epoch Times.
He believes that Trump has garnered support from black and Hispanic voters due to the memories of a thriving economy and stronger border security during his time in office.
Further south in Grand Rapids, at a mini-mall in suburban Wyoming, Drew chuckled when asked if he preferred Trump over Harris. “That’s a no-brainer,” he replied, mentioning that he had requested four Trump signs from a local campaign office to display in his yard facing a busy street.
Concerned about criticism, Drew preferred not to disclose his last name due to his pro-Trump stance. He emphasized the economy and illegal immigration as his main worries.
Similar to Amon in Lansing, Drew expressed distress over the high cost of living affecting the next generation of his family. “My daughter can’t afford to move out. Where will she go?” he pondered. “We can’t endure another four years of this.” Please provide an alternate version. Please rewrite this sentence.
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