America’s Big Decision: What’s Next for the Country?

America is about to pick its next leader, and it’s a very important choice. Two people are running for president: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Each one says that bad things might happen if they don’t win.

• Donald Trump says that if he loses, the country will get much worse and might become “communist.”
• Kamala Harris says that if Trump wins, he might try to take too much power and not be fair.

In important states where the election is very close, people are seeing lots of ads on TV and online that make them feel scared. Because of this, many people are feeling worried and nervous.

In Wisconsin, I talked to a lady named Heather. She said, “They’re trying to make us live in fear so we’ll vote for them.” Heather plans to vote for Trump because she thinks Harris’s ideas about money and jobs are scary.

Not far away, I met Tracy, who plans to vote for Harris. She told me, “It’s one of the most important elections in my lifetime. There’s a lot on the line.” She’s worried that if Trump wins, he might not give up power easily.

Both Heather and Tracy are really worried about what will happen if their person doesn’t win. Many other people feel the same way.

Tracy also said she doesn’t believe the news that says the race is very close. She can’t imagine that so many people would vote for Trump. Lots of people are surprised that the election is so tight.

As I’ve traveled around, I’ve noticed that America feels very divided. It’s like two different groups sharing the same country.

• Democrats (people who usually support Harris) often live in cities and suburbs.
• Republicans (people who usually support Trump) often live in the countryside.

Many people are moving to places where most others think like they do. You can tell which areas support which candidate by looking at the signs in people’s yards.

But soon, everyone will come together to vote. There will be a winner and a loser. When people find out who won, they might be surprised to learn that many others feel differently than they do.

Two Different Paths to Election Day

Both Trump and Harris have had interesting journeys to this election.

Earlier this year, Trump was in court and was found guilty of a crime. Some people wondered if someone who was convicted could become president again. But many of his supporters thought he was being treated unfairly, and this made them support him even more.

A very important moment happened when someone tried to hurt Trump during a speech in Pennsylvania. He was injured but quickly stood up and encouraged his supporters to stay strong. This made his supporters even more loyal.

Just two days later, Trump appeared at the Republican convention. Many people were very emotional to see him. Some called him “the chosen one.” At that time, Trump seemed very likely to win.

On the other side, the Democrats were worried. President Joe Biden didn’t do well in a debate, and people thought he might be too old to run again. Soon after, Biden decided not to run, and Kamala Harris became the candidate.

At the Democratic convention, Harris made many people excited again. She said this election was a chance to move past the fighting and come together. People who had been worried started to feel hopeful.

But after the convention, Harris had trouble keeping up the excitement. She gained some support, but it was hard to convince people who hadn’t decided yet.

What Voters Are Saying

In Atlanta, I met Zoie, who owns a hair salon. She said she wasn’t very excited to vote this time. She plans to vote for Harris but thinks Trump might be better for small businesses like hers. Still, she’s happy about the idea of a Black woman becoming president. “She will win, I know she will win,” Zoie said.

People on both sides are sure their candidate will win.

• Harris supporters can’t believe that Trump, who was found guilty of a crime, is still popular.
• Trump supporters can’t understand why anyone would vote for Harris, who they think has changed her mind on important issues.

This election feels very important to many people. Both sides think that if the other wins, bad things will happen. This has made people very nervous and tense.

After the election, there might be disagreements and protests. No matter what happens, one side will be unhappy.

In the end, America will come together at the polls to make their choice. Soon, everyone will find out that many others have different ideas about what’s best for the country.

For the side that doesn’t win, this will be a hard thing to accept. But it’s important to remember that everyone wants what’s best for America, even if they have different ideas about how to get there.