US election turnout: Swing states explain why they may not vote for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: In one of the most important swing states of the 2024 US presidential election, most locals are celebrating a one-point win this weekend — but not in the race to the White House.

The State has a population of almost 11 million people, and nearly 4 million have already voted. However many others simply are “not voting”, instead putting their effort into turning up for sporting games and music in the city.

Hometown NFL Team Charlotte Panthers had a surprise win at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina on Sunday, defeating the New Orleans Saints by just one point, 22 to 23.

“A win is a win,” a fan said on the street following the game.

The irony of the local team’s surprise win and the joy that it brought appeared to be lost on locals two days out from the US election with many planning not to vote.

Some simply don’t care about the outcome of the US election, while others battle a harder decision of casting their vote towards either candidate due to significant racial historical factors.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both exhausted significant efforts in one of the seven must-win states to secure the white house.

On Saturday Ms Harris held a rally in the city of Charlotte while Mr Trump held rallies in Gastone and Greensboro.

Walking around the streets of the city, it was clear that despite those efforts, the election was the farthest thing from locals’ minds.

Middle school teacher Shana explained, “Everyone knows it coming. So many won’t vote and instead, this weekend has been about attending concerts, a basketball game or a football game.”

“People might think about it on Tuesday. If they end up voting at all,” she added.

American rapper BigXthaPlug, Mexican grupera band Los Temerarios, basketball teams the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics, as well as NFL teams the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, appear to have stolen the thunder from both Ms Harris and Mr Trump.

It makes the city a refreshing place to bid so near to the election. No one is wearing Trump or Harris campaign apparel, signs are not planted in front yards of locals and you do not overhear constant conversations or arguments of competing political views.

At Duckworths Grill and Bar on the main street of Charlotte, 32 TV screens displayed three separate NFL matches on Sunday night in just one of its two rooms. With the locals hooked on every move.

The only appearance of politicians came in repetitive smear ads, often leading to groans from the crowd or even the occasion “f**k the government,” from the rowdy bunch.

Kevin, originally from Oklahoma and now a Charlotte local said: “I’m 40-years-old and I have never voted.”

“Under Republicans, under Democrats, I’ve done well in my career and been able to advance. So I don’t see the point,” he added.

The blue-collar American works in management for a major car brand and explained that knowing his hometown of Oklahoma would always vote Republican had engrained the mentality that he carries today.

Despite moving, he has never been to a ballot box to exercise his democratic right.

The issue of the 2024 election and the reason for its completely unpredictable outcome is that Kevin is not alone.

Voter turnout in the US varies. in 2020 around 62 per cent of Americans turned out to vote and in 2016, Trump’s last win, only 54 per cent.

At a Trump rally earlier this week with around 16,000 attendees, Jenelle Kay and Jon Kaul from Milwaukee said a large portion of the crowd “would not bother voting.”

“They are here for the excitement, for the opportunity to see Donald Trump. They won’t actually do anything.”

Ms Kay a Democrat and Mr Kaul a Republican attended the rally for “date night”.

Neither voted earlier and both admitted it might be hard to vote on Tuesday, November 5 while honouring their other commitments.

It’s a concept that might be foreign to Australians.

Down Under, citizens must vote in a Federal election unless they want to pay a fine.

When this model was put to Kevin, he said if he had to pay a fine he would “probably vote for the first time”.

Voter turnout has become the major talking point for political commentators.

Polls are not suggesting a clear winner, with many believing the election could be one of the closest of all time, or even a landslide for one candidate over the other if the turnout is strong enough.

When one candidate gets ahead in a poll, it can activate a block of voters to make the effort, leading to a rebalance of the potential split, or at times securing a lead.

The decision not to vote is more complex for others, like local Charlotte Uber Driver Samuel.

The Black full-time driver has not decided who he will vote for on Tuesday. He does not want another four years of Mr Trump, but fundamentally disagrees with Ms Harris’ “weak” positions, especially on the border.

“For me sitting out would be disappointing. People died and were put through hell just to get the right, the opportunity to vote,” referencing Black Americans only securing the right to vote in 1965.

“And here I am not wanting to vote,” he said.

“I don’t like either of them. But my mother would never forgive me if I didn’t vote.”

Samuel admits he is busy on Tuesday and actually getting to a polling booth will be challenging.

Some voters don’t feel the need to go out and vote because they already believe it will be “rigged”.

College student Nick Gross said: “I think they (Democrats) are going to rig the election”.

He believes that the 2020 election included an excessive amount of voter fraud, citing beliefs that some Democrats submitted votes on behalf of dead relatives.

The concern aligns perfectly with seeds of doubt planted by Mr Trump, who still to this day does not believe he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

“I shouldn’t have left. I mean, honestly, because we did so, we did so well,” Mr Trump said at a rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Speaking to ABC News Mr Trump gave a concerning response when asked if he could lose.

“I mean, that happens, right?” he said.

“Bad things could happen. You know, things happen, but it’s going to be interesting.”