they are Americans and live in Poitiers, they talk about their country

“When I was little, my father had a closet full of guns… And yet, at that time, Oklahoma was a Democratic stronghold…” So remembers John Harris, 61, who has had dual French-American nationality since 1998. He has lived in Poitiers for around twenty years. “The last time I voted was for the Bush versus Gore election. From now on, I would find it unfair to vote in a country that I do not live in. I work in France. I pay my taxes in France. »

“The USA is a country of immigrants. To deny this is to forget our roots”

If he still had to choose, John would vote for Kamala, and not just for the shared surname. This former lawyer follows American politics very closely. “My mother still lives in Oklahoma. And if Trump passes, it would be disastrous. » This state in the southeastern United States “has changed in recent years, it has become a Republican stronghold”.

This year, John returned to his home country twice, in May and August: “I saw people disgusted by politics. In the late 90s, we could discuss and debate even if we didn’t agree. From now on, we can no longer talk politics if we don’t vote for the same party, the world has become binary. » He has difficulty understanding what his country has become: “The USA is a country of immigrants. To deny this is, for many, to forget their roots…”

Sitting in a café in downtown Poitiers, John Harris draws a map of the United States and deciphers: “There are three decisive states where everything can change: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin which belong in particular to the Blue Wall. » Understand “the blue wall”. Originally, it is a block “around twenty states considered firmly Democratic” et “winning the Blue Wall is considered an important step in the race for the White House”. He follows the polls. Read it New York Times and the Washington Post.

“Americans are afraid to express themselves”

Andrew Hales was born in California and did not choose dual nationality even though he has lived in Poitiers for 35 years. “So I’m voting in the last state I lived in… even though it was 36 years ago!” » The one who is today director of the fanzinotheque in Poitiers voted by correspondence at the beginning of October.

A fortnight ago, he returned to the United States to see his parents. What atmosphere did he find? “It was very tense, people didn’t want to talk about politics at all. » California has voted Democratic since the 1970s. “It’s very urban and cosmopolitan, but everyone is anxious. »

He remembers a walk in a residential area with a friend: “I was very surprised that no one posted who they were voting for, even though it is a tradition in our country. People are afraid to express themselves…”

His fear? “Let the country remain fractured. We have to put an end to Trump! If he wins, it’s a disaster. If he loses with too close a score, he will incite violence. The only hope is that Kamala Harris passes by a fairly large margin…”