We Asked Voters In Swing States If They Feel More Powerful Than The Average Voter

At this point, most pollsters believe that the presidential election probably hinges on the decisions of undecided voters in a few swing states. (How could anyone be undecided at this point? We have an explainer on that.)

Seven states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — will decide the Electoral College, handing the win to Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

For months, voters living in those seven states have endured nearly ceaseless door-knocks, phone calls and political TV ads. So far, political ad spending has surpassed $6 billion, according to MediaRadar and AdImpact, with most of that money focused on battleground states.

What’s that been like? We decided to ask voters in swing states how they feel about all this unwanted attention, whether or not the Electoral College system is fair, if they feel their vote matters more than other Americans’ and whether they think their state will turn red or blue in the near future.

Here’s what they had to say. (Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.)

“I’ve lived in Wisconsin all my life. In those 25 years, it’s always been a swing state. I definitely feel my vote has more weight and impact. I always tell people online, ‘Be nice to me, I’m a swing-state voter.’ I’ve even been approached by people in New York and California online offering me money to buy my vote. I get texts every day, mostly from groups endorsing Kamala, but a few Trump-affiliated groups, too.” ― Rachel Jake, a 25-year-old from Wisconsin

“I moved to Georgia in 2017 from California. Living in a closely divided state makes the civic duty of voting more obvious. It makes me personally feel obligated to cast my vote. In 2020, it was thrilling to be a part of a very small number of voters that allowed the Senate to go to the Dems. It also made the attacks on the election feel more personal. Coming from spending my first 40 years in California, it’s an undeniable difference. As messed-up as the system is, my vote in Georgia carries more weight than it did in California. But like a lot of things in America, it’s an unfair and unequal system.

Atlanta and the greater Southeast is growing really fast. There is a return to the South by professional middle-class Black families, which sociologists call ‘reverse migration,’ so I imagine it will teeter back and forth as a true swing state in the near future, but I’m an optimist. A new South.” ― Ethan Embry, a 46-year-old from Georgia

“I’ve lived in Georgia off and on since I was six. I feel like my vote is more powerful in a swing state only when it comes to helping normalize voting for third-party candidates, since people will be watching us. Barack Obama was the last Democrat I voted for in 2012. Since then, I have been voting for the Green Party’s candidates — mostly because they represent my values, but also because I am protesting the corporate parties and their refusal to represent the people they are supposed to. In a swing state, a third-party vote gets more visibility and helps send the message that we are absolutely not a two-party system. Democrats do not own the votes of the left. We are building our own political movement and own parties that stand on our values, which do not include [funding the war in Gaza].

Most ‘outreach’ has come from angry pro-Harris liberals on social media vote-shaming, insulting and harassing those of us campaigning for Jill Stein.” ― Stephanie, a 57-year-old from Georgia

“Georgia has only gone Democrat a few times since the party switch — with Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden. It’s not a normal swing state. I was an election worker for my county in 2020 and it was wild.

Now I live in France, but I still maintain the right to vote and do so as an overseas resident. I don’t feel any more powerful than the average voter, but having John Oliver do an entire segment of his show recently on how contentious the election in Georgia will be makes me realize how important my vote is. I moved away from the USA for a reason, but I know that voting is still important to help those that can’t easily get away.

My mother fields so many calls asking for me, and she gets tons of election mail for me. I also receive calls on my Google Voice number. However, it’s nice and calm here in France. I do get Instagram ads reminding me to vote, which I’ve already done.” ― Sabrina, 38-year-old Georgia voter who now lives in France

“I wouldn’t say I personally feel more powerful than the average voter, but I do feel that my voting participation matters more here in Pennsylvania. We have a second home in Wildwood, New Jersey ― a very red county ― and we have friends that are full-time residents who sometimes don’t bother to vote because they consider the state reliably blue. If we were to move to NJ, I think I would be simultaneously relieved to no longer be in a swing state, but also disappointed that politicians would no longer work to earn my vote due to the Electoral College system. As a political junkie, the latest vitriolic, hyperbolic ads really bother me. Additionally, at least once per day, I am replying ‘stop’ to text message outreach. It is exhausting.

I think PA will remain a purple state for the foreseeable future. I believe in this cycle, the popular vote and corresponding Electoral College [vote] will move in favor of Kamala Harris. There is just no denying that our governor, Josh Shapiro, has delivered on his promise to make our state more efficient and prosperous and because of his popularity, I think that will help move Kamala over the finish line with more moderate, independent voters. Anyway, go Birds!” ― Theresa Pearson, a 44-year-old from Pennsylvania

“I live in Wisconsin for 43 years. Historically, Wisconsin has a history of progressive politics, but that has shifted over time. Since moving here, presidential races have mostly supported the Democratic candidate, with the exception of the Ronald Reagan [years]. Since Reagan, the presidential races have become tighter, except for the Obama contests, so I would say the late 80s was the start of WI being a swing state.

I don’t feel more powerful than the average voter, but I do feel more important. I have a number of friends, though, in both blue and red states, who wish their vote was more meaningful.

The election cycle has been daunting and tiresome. I’ve been inundated with mailings, emails and texts, requests for money and invitations to events and fundraisers. I’ve been pretty active with time and donations, so I know some of that has been my own doing. TV commercials are in constant rotation and intrusive. It’s exacerbated by the number of PAC ads. I tend to mute most commercials that I can’t bypass. In WI, it’s doubly problematic. We have a tight Senate race in addition to the presidency. And I don’t see WI escaping its ‘purple’ status any time soon.” ― Jim Morgenstern, a 71-year-old who lives in Wisconsin

“We moved here in 2019 because our daughter is a student at the University of Georgia, and made the move permanent in 2020. Coming from Washington state, I actually could not recall seeing a television ad for Donald Trump until we moved here.

I live in a very, very affluent and red area of Georgia ― Reynolds in Greensboro, Georgia ― and the vast majority are very outspoken in support of former President Trump. There is a small but growing group of Democrats out here, which is fairly new this election, I think. I do have friends that are curious about what it is like to live in Georgia amongst all the visits and press we get, and I have other friends and family who went down the rabbit hole about [misinformation about the] election in Georgia.

I could imagine Georgia becoming very purple. There is a lot of money and new industry coming into Georgia, and with that money, it brings in different viewpoints. I do think the state will stay competitive, and there is still just so much racism here I am not sure how that bodes for the governor’s race or the Senate races when those open back up. I also think it depends on what folks are voting for: Abortion is a hot topic here right now, and if that continues to be the case, that impacts how some people vote. Folks may have voted Republican in the past, however, may not now, as they have a wife, daughter or granddaughter that perhaps they are concerned about as it relates to maternal care.” ―Michelle Lombard, a 54-year-old from Georgia

“I have lived in Pennsylvania for 63 years. Our demographics are rather weird ― though that’s an overused word this election. James Carville is quoted as saying something to the effect of, ‘Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between.’

In my lifetime, it has not always been a swing state. It was very blue until around 2000, I think primarily because unions and Philadelphia supported Democratic candidates.

Have I been inundated with TV ads and calls? Is there a stronger word for the millions of dollars being spent on TV/radio ads, billboards, rallies, mail, phone calls and text messages? Submerged? Drowning? Blitzed? It is absolutely insane, especially given that I have already voted by mail.

I think our red or blue status will likely switch back and forth like a pendulum. But I truly fear for the future of the United States. A representative democracy must have an educated and motivated population. With book-banning, rewriting history and attacks on education, we are failing to educate and help people filter out propaganda from truth.” ― Debby, a 72-year-old from Pennsylvania

“I vote in Pennsylvania but I live in Canada. [Editor’s note: He has dual citizenship.] I do feel that my vote matters more in Pennsylvania than it would in almost all other states. I’m absolutely inundated with Democratic and Green campaign material. None of it has any influence on me because I think clearly for myself and know exactly how I’m going to vote and why.

Will Pennsylvania turn red or blue? I think our political situation is so volatile that it’s impossible to know what will happen four years from now, much less farther into the future. The question of swing-state voting is really a critical one. Individual voters in the more than 40 non-swing states have no real impact. Pollsters and campaign directors know this and ignore them. That’s why I support abolishing the very archaic Electoral College system and electing the president by popular vote. The good news is, a lot of Americans are working toward this goal in a very realistic and pragmatic way.” ― David Mivasair, a 72-year-old Pennsylvania voter who lives in Canada