US expats: Hope, we won't make the biggest blunder

Bengaluru: “I am not a fan of Hillary, but I am not crazy either,” says Ms Kimberley Jordan, an expat from the United States, who teaches history at the Canadian International School at Yelahanka.

She has a deep-seated fear about the outcome of this year's Presidential election, just like many other expats in the city as the countdown for the 45th US president begins.

"As much as the rest of the world, even I am waiting with a bated breath to see if we are going to either get a shady yet basically capable politician for POTUS or the country is really going to turn upside down and vote a misogynist, racist, man-child, narcissist," says Ms Jordan, who was a Bernie Sanders supporter and voted for him in the Primaries.

She, however, voted for Hillary as Donald Trump was too dangerous to consider.
Ms Frances Rao, who is  a US resident and an OCI cardholder, is also anxious about the results.

“I can only hope that it is Hillary as it is neck and neck for both the candidates. What's scary is that people who have voted for Trump and made him the Republican nominee are good solid American citizens," she says.

Frances requested for an absentee ballot to vote. "For me it was an absentee ballot and I voted for Hillary as I am a Democrat all the way," she says.  

Ms Jordahn also requested for an absentee ballot. "I requested a ballot and I got one sent to me in a pdf format.  I printed it, filled it out and mailed it back about three weeks ago," she says.

“As sad as it is, I am probably the most politically minded of my group of friends. I even sent reminder emails and offered to help anyone who needed to cast absentee vote, because our vote counts, especially when Donald Trump is the Republican nominee," she stresses.

Another expat isn't a happy voter either. "I am very upset in this election. Originally, I was a Bernie Sanders supporter. I heavily dislike Trump and Clinton while the third parties just don't have the leverage they need for this election. I voted for Hillary though, because Donald Trump is too dangerous in my opinion. This is the worst election in American history though," quips Chris Powell, who too cast an absentee vote. Meanwhile, they keep their fingers crossed that fellow Americans back home don't make the biggest blunder.