In Paris, Harry’s Bar, which organizes a fictitious vote, has chosen its president

For one evening, rue Daunou in Paris is transformed into Little America. Flags, hot dogs and cocktails galore, at Harry’s Bar, expatriates and tourists passing through Paris have something to remember the big events. For more than a century, during each American election, the MacElhone family has organized a “straw vote” which allows anyone with an American passport to vote in a fake manner for one of the two presidential candidates. . “We’ve only been wrong twice in a hundred years, which is still more reliable than a polling institute,” smiles Franz-Arthur MacElhone, the current owner of the place.

Donald Trump par K.-O.

From 7 p.m., guests rush to enjoy the bar, while latecomers slip their ballot into the padlocked ballot box. Every week, the establishment counts the papers and since last Friday, Donald Trump has been in front. The hours pass and at 11 p.m., it’s the big time. The team counts and recounts the ballots and a few minutes later, Franz-Arthur MacElhone announces “568 for Donald Trump and 534 for Kamala Harris. » In the bar, it’s a shock. Elisa, a regular here, has difficulty accepting the choice of Americans expatriated or on vacation, “I am very worried for the Americans but also for the world… In relation to the war in Ukraine, in relation to all the international subjects which occupy us today and also in relation to global warming, ecology…”. For Jérémy, an American expatriate in Paris, hope (or denial) prevails over disappointment. “I don’t want to believe that it’s this vote that will determine the result tomorrow morning or in three weeks. » The French are the first to leave the place, the Americans plan to live together, a new page in their history.