Experts say that the fate of democracy rests on the outcome of next week’s presidential election, and Americans are perhaps more divided and angry at one another than ever.
But, you know, “Candy is candy.”
Students not old enough to vote will trick-or-treat tonight, and junior Eleanor Miller’s assessment suggests that the quest for candy trumps political yard signs. But will the nation’s political battle discourage costumed kids, or their accompanying adults, from visiting some houses for treats?
“No, absolutely not,” said building substitute Lara Mullen. “People’s candy has no affiliation with their political views.” Mullen said she would not avoid houses that displayed her disfavored candidate’s campaign signs this Halloween.
Some estimates hold that 35 million children in the United States go trick-or-treating each year. This year, they’ll visit neighbors during an impossibly tight presidential race. According to The New York Times polling, Vice President Kamala Harris is currently leading with 49 percent of likely voters, with former President Donald Trump following closely at 48 percent.
The candidates recently delivered closing speeches, attempting to swing undecided voters their way. Meanwhile, a Texas man was arrested Oct. 24 for assaulting an election clerk after he was asked to remove his Make America Great Again hat at an early voting location in order to comply with a law that forbids electioneering, or trying to influence voters, within 100 feet of a voting site. Three ballot collection boxes in Washington and Oregon were set afire Oct. 28. In one case, hundreds of ballots were destroyed.
Sophomore Ellie White said the political allegiance of candy distributors matters to her. “I just feel like seeing something I don’t agree with rubs me the wrong way,” said White. “I don’t know if I want to associate with them, even though I am supportive of other people’s opinions.” White said she would avoid certain houses when trick-or-treating.
However, it appears that people can put aside political preferences in the name of Halloween.
Said junior Quinn Malone, “I mean, it’s free candy.”
