American voters in Scotland fear disorder after US election as voters go to polls for Harris and Trump

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As voters go to the polls in America today, the Sunday Mail spoke to four US citizens living in Scotland about their views, hopes and fears for the election back home.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are facing off in what is described as one of the closest election races in US history with votes being counted overnight. The President may not be announced for some days due to the length of time it takes to count votes and whether or not there are any legal challenges.

Here are what some Americans living in Scotland had to say on who they're supporting and why.

Cynthia Holden, originally from Florida, lives in Clackmannanshire with her husband and runs an events company. She moved to Scotland 20 years ago.

Mum of two Cynthia said she voted for Kamala Harris as she believes Donald Trump presents a threat to women and to minority groups and worries for her family members back home.

She said: “I love Kamala because she’s into all the things that are important to me - as far as women are concerned, the environment and our allies.

“When people say ‘Let’s make America great again’ I always ask them when was America great, and for whom?

“Because I don’t remember America being that great for women, for people of colour, for black women and for ethnic minorities.

“If Trump wins we are going to have problems. He’s talking about removing illegal aliens so people will have to start proving they are American.

“If Kamala wins we are going to see some negative things happen because people are going to riot.

“America is imploding right now and to be honest I’m glad that I’m not there. I do worry about my family back home.

“Trump himself doesn’t scare me but the people who support him do. I believe they’re morally corrupt. This candidate who is heinous, who can’t even go to some countries because he has felonies...you know all of this and you still support him? You are morally corrupt, point blank.”

Ellen Matheson, 59, from South Carolina has lived in in Torphichen for the last year and is due to return to the US next month when she finishes her postgraduate degree in psychology.

She voted for Kamala Harris mainly for her stance on women’s rights and fears violence erupting following the vote.

She said: “Right now in the United States women’s rights are being eroded every single moment. I have a daughter who I’m trying to guide to move away to do a postgraduate course because I don’t think America is a safe place for young women right now.

“Whoever wins the election there’s going to be discord, disharmony and probably violence and I just don’t want to be a part of that.

“When I go back home, I’m going back to a country that has become so divided that I don’t know how common ground will be found.

“Regardless of who wins there will be chaos.”

Ellen said the friction within her family and friend groups has risen due to people supporting different candidates.

She said: “It’s caused a lot of problems between people I know - neighbors, people that were friends or business associates who are supporting different people.

“Some of my relatives support Trump and it has made things very uncomfortable.

Milo Stewart, a 30-year-old from California has been living in Fife while doing a master’s degree in international relations at St Andrews university.

He has flown back home to vote in person and is supporting Donald Trump for the first time.

He said: “This isn’t about a party line for me. I’d consider myself more libertarian than republican but I am an American before and above all else.

“My commitment to Donald Trump stems from a few places including the character he has shown in the face of hurdles thrown at him — freedom of speech online, our border and immigration crisis, the pandemic, the wars in Ukraine.”

Milo said he was worried about what will happen after the election but was confident a Trump victory would resolve many of the issues he believes America has.

He said: “A Trump win should mean a deep look into our institutions, aggressive and transparent justice for those who’ve abused these institutions and a recalibration for efficiency.

“Kamala Harris went from the least liked presidential candidate to an inefficient vice president, to the uncontested primary of the DNC with no votes. She was just put there.

“It’s is clear that our political class and this administration isn’t operating responsibly and upholding the desires, safety, and values of its people. Especially illegal immigration is a real threat to our citizenry and the future of our country and Harris should rightfully be held responsible.”

Michael Heaney, a political professor from New Jersey, lives in Glasgow.

He voted for Kamala Harris and has been a registered Democratic party member for decades but said he expects Trump to win.

He said: “The odds favor Trump at the moment and when I look at the electoral map, it looks to me like he’s going to win.”

The 52-year-old said he was concerned about the impact of a Truump victory on international relations and the current conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

He said: “Ukraine will be a very difficult situation after Trump if he becomes president. I’m also worried about US policy toward toward Palestine and Gaza.

“The US is already pretty pro-Israel but there’ll be a big shift in favor of Israel and against the Palestinians.

“In some ways these are all short term considerations because we’re not even talking about the many other policies that he’ll get wrong for example climate change.

“The bigger concern is the erosion of American democracy and that Americans are supporting him.

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