2020 has been a year to remember for many reasons, and tensions in the United States have created an even more stressful time with an election year. Many minorities are in fear of the election outcome, and with the new appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, many people fear a fraudulent election will be claimed and the Supreme Court will refuse a recount. 

With the electoral college voting in December, the election results will not be fully known until then, even though the popular vote in November usually represents the electoral vote. These tumultuous possibilities have many Americans in a state of heightened stress that I fear will last for months. 

According to the Washington Post, “43% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents identify voter fraud as a ‘major problem’ associated with mail-in ballots. By contrast, only 11% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say the same thing,” and this opinion changes the way people vote. Republicans are more likely to vote in person, even with the pandemic, while Democrats are more likely to vote early by mail and see fraud as less of an issue. 

While the fear of voter fraud doesn’t seem to spread throughout the country, it is still something to take into consideration as the polls and votes are counted. The matter of each individual vote’s worth is a controversial topic, but the matters being voted on far outweigh that controversy, and for many United States citizens, the outcome will affect their lives permanently.

Racial injustice is a topic debated throughout America with two candidates with different points of view on the topic: one radical and the other moderate enough to satisfy the American people until the next tragedy. This election is the breaking point for many conflicts facing the world just as much as the American people, with topics like climate change, LGBT and POC rights, women’s rights, health care, and the Coronavirus pandemic. With focus on even just one of these issues, such as climate change, the world cannot afford a massive country like the United States to be withdrawn from solutions to help fix the climate crisis.

 None of these issues are more important than the other, and all need attention. One candidate does not support these issues and thousands of people will suffer under their leadership. All of these aspects make this election very important, and the outcome will affect many future and present lives for several years around the globe. 

As we await the results of the election, tensions rise around the country with many cities in anticipation for violence, which emphasizes the importance of this year’s election to so many citizens. With the threat of possible unrest weighing heavily on cities and minorities, information is being spread on safety plans post election results. V Magazine posted an article advising readers to “pack a bag of essentials in case you do need to go, including your ID and important documents, any medications you may need, some clothes, toiletries, snacks, cash, cards, your phone and laptop and their chargers, and some form of personal protection, just in case.” Remember your humanity as the election results are given and keep perspective that although you might feel safe, others might not.