In their own words: Voters explain election views

In the build-up to Tuesday’s US presidential election, AFP correspondents have travelled to dozens of towns and cities far beyond Washington to hear from voters about how they view hot-button issues. Here are some of those voters in their own words:

It didn’t make a difference with the last three presidents. So it ain’t going to make a difference with this next one ... I have no hope. The only thing I have hope in is my own self — what I can do for my family.”

Demon Lane, a 27-year-old Baltimore resident

I was just appalled by how he was trying to paint this picture of suburban women falling into his camp and being as racist as he is. He paints us as afraid of losing our white picket fences, perfect little houses and perfect yards and I don’t think that’s the people I have run into at all.” Brook Manewal, co-founder of the Suburban Women Against Trump group (the SWAT Team) in Connecticut

I like a business guy and I like a guy who is strong-willed. America was somewhat founded by people who were rebels... Trump, he’s somewhat of a rebel.”

Brian Milo, a former GM worker laid off when an Ohio plant shut down

No Democrat in America is confident because 2016 took everybody by surprise, even Donald (Trump). Most Democrats are looking at good news, at polling numbers and all of that, your brain is going frantic trying to say: ‘Ok, where is it looming? How is it going to slip away from us?”

Bill Burke, a 55-year-old history professor

We think you should treat people with respect. If the two candidates were the same,

I would be voting for the one that opposed elective abortion. But these two candidates are not the same. One of them, from my perspective, will build and strengthen our democracy, whereas the other, I think, if he continues on this path, will have an extremely negative impact on our democracy.”

Dan Barker, a 67-year-old retired judge and lifelong Republican

For us, on our private land, to do anything we had to get permits ... and the Trump administration has eliminated (such) requirements. I no longer have to get a permit to do anything on my own private land.”

Jim and Sue Chilton, ranchers in Arizona

I honestly feel that we need to get Trump out of office. The bottom line for me? I mean he’s a systemic racist. Point blank period. A man like that has no business... running the country”.

Oscar Walton,