Jennifer Claywood is a regular columnist in Norran. She has now voted in the U.S. presidential election. Archive photo.
Today, Tuesday, more than 240 million Americans will vote on whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States. The opinion polls have been very even - but when it comes to Americans living in Sweden, observers believe that most are Democrats.
According to SVT, USA citizens are in the top ten list of nationalities when it comes to moving to Skellefteå. We have spoken to three Americans who have moved to the Norran area in recent years.
Jennifer Claywood:
Jennifer Claywood is a teacher and columnist for Norran English, Norran’s English-language subsite.
Originally from Florida, she has lived in Skellefteå for just over six years. She recalls the 2016 election, when Donald Trump was elected president.
– The day after the election, I actually moved to Sweden. I was sitting in the airport with my wedding dress packed, I was getting married later that year. I remember sitting there at the airport and crying while people passed by as if nothing had happened, she says.
This year she has voted for Kamala Harris.
– I am excited to see our first female president.
– Many Trump supporters seize every opportunity to label foreigners as criminals, yet they want to elect a convicted felon to the White House. To me, that's hypocrisy.
During his presidency, Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, which enabled the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that guaranteed access to abortion in the United States.
For Jennifer, the issue of abortion is crucial, and she is also deeply concerned about the state of religious freedom in the country.
– I don’t want Christian nationalists to take over. Our country was founded on the principle of separating church and state, so turning your back on people with other beliefs is fundamentally anti-American, she says.
Shelbi Taylor:
Shelbi Taylor, a teacher and PhD student, has lived in Skellefteå since 2017. She feels that this year’s presidential election is the most important in a very long time.
– I previously voted for Obama, Clinton, and Biden. Now, I’m voting for Kamala Harris, she says.
She describes the election as pivotal and feels uncertain about how the world would be impacted if Trump were elected president. Social rights and access to free information are among the issues she considers most important.
Shelbi Taylor has lived in Skellefteå since 2017 and has now voted for Kamala Harris.
– It’s important to me that everyone has equal access to information about healthcare, abortion, and similar topics.
The United States today is often described as deeply divided, with a high degree of political polarization.
Shelbi has noticed this polarization first-hand. At the same time, she points out that her parents come from different political backgrounds, which often led her to "think for herself."
– I know many people who vote the same way as their family. But I’ve never really done that, she says.
USA elections are typically very personal, with the candidates’ personalities often overshadowing the political issues themselves.
Shelbi Taylor is glad that Kamala Harris stepped in for Joe Biden, but she would still have voted for him if it had been necessary.
– I don’t care that people called Biden demented or painted him as incompetent. Trump is so dangerous that, for me, there’s no alternative, she says.
Sarah Glenn:
Sarah Glenn lives in Skellefteå and is studying to become a software developer. She has also voted for Kamala Harris.
– A lot will be determined in this election. It will be crucial for our future and our place in the world. Ultimately, it’s about preserving our democracy, she says.
Sarah Glenn believes that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy.
Democrats often describe Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. When he met with Christian voters last summer, he said that they "won't have to vote again" after the election.
The Trump campaign typically counters that Kamala Harris is the real threat, accusing her of having "overthrown" Joe Biden without any democratic process.
Sarah moved to Sweden from California just this past January. She is aware that the election is widely discussed in Sweden and feels a bit embarrassed to be an American during election season.
On Tuesday night, the election vigil will begin on television. Sarah finds it nerve-wracking, but she is also relieved to be away from the political polarization back home in the United States.
– In a way, it’s comforting to be on the other side of the world. I can avoid all the commotion on election day, and while I don’t think I’ll follow the vigil, I’ll probably wake up the next morning to see how it all turned out, she says.
Note: Norran has also tried to find Trump supporters in Skellefteå, but no one has been willing to speak up. Do you know someone who supports Trump? Please email tipsa@norran.se.