'We came too far to go backwards'- Detroit votes as polls open in '24 election

Record ID: 1854039

  • Title: 'We came too far to go backwards'- Detroit votes as polls open in '24 election
  • Date: 5th November 2024
  • Summary: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 5, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF ADAMS BUTZEL RECREATION CENTER POLLING STATION WITH "VOTE HERE" SIGNS AS DAY BREAKS SIGN THAT READS, (English) "WELCOME TO ADAMS-BUTZEL PLEASE CHECK IN" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING TO VOTE AS POLLS OPEN VARIOUS OF CHECK IN DESK SIGN FOR 'CITY OF DETROIT" VOTERS CHECKING IN (SOUNDBITE) (Engl
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2024 12:53
  • Keywords: 2024 election Adams Butzel Detroit Donald Trump Kamala Harris Michigan swing state
  • Location: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • City: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001716605112024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Day broke on Detroit Tuesday (November 5) as voters filed into the Adams Butzel Recreation Center as the dizzying presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris hurtled toward an uncertain finish.
    The line was long but manageable as the polls at Adams Butzel began opening at 7 a.m. (1200 GMT) in Detroit, Michigan. The swing state began voting along with more than two dozen states.
    Along with fellow rust belt states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Michigan has been a bellwether in the Trump era. In 2016, the Republican Presidential candidate won the state by just 10,000 votes.
    A race whipsawed by unprecedented events - two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise - remained too close to call, even after billions of dollars in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.
    But there was palpable excitement for Harris among the African-Americans lining up to vote on Election Day.
    "I think that is the greatest thing in the world. We're making history here," said Detroit comedian, Tarece Swaizey. "it's time for women to step up and let's see what you all do… I think Kamala is gonna put the action with that."
    The first ballots cast on election day mirrored the nationwide divide. Overnight, the six registered voters in the tiny hamlet of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, split their votes between Harris and Trump in voting just past midnight.
    Trump's campaign has suggested he may declare victory on election night even while millions of ballots have yet to be counted, just as he did four years ago. The former president has repeatedly said any defeat could only stem from widespread fraud, echoing his false claims from 2020. The winner may not be known for days if the margins in key states are as slim as expected.
    Detroit voters at Adams Butzel were less than excited about the return of the former president.
    "This is the tipping point for the future where there's going to be positive or negative," said Detroit construction worker, Hassan Khaleem-El. "We came too far to go backwards. You know what I'm saying? When you think about his, 'Make America Great Again,' think about when he was born at a point in time when America was great to him. America was great to him, when we was divided."
    (Production by: Imad Creidi, Dan Fastenberg)
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