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How to Spend the American Election in Canada

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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Ottawa chapter.

The American Election is fast approaching, with November 5th just around the corner. People around the world are holding their breath to see which candidate will win. U.S. news outlets, social media, and shows like SNL are going round the clock with the Kamala vs. Trump debate. For us poor neighbors up north who can only hold our breaths in anticipation, the question becomes how should I spend election night? This guide is hear to help.

Host an election watch party

A marvelous way to spend election night is by hosting an election watch party with your friends. Invite them over for the battle royale that is U.S. elections results. Enjoy watching as votes come in, while snacking on all the best treats! Don’t worry about having American snacks. Best Canadian favourites – poutine for dinner, Nanimo bars and butter tarts for desert – and you’ll feel right at home. 🎬

Attend an election watch party

If hosting sounds like too much work, no worries! You can certainly attend an election watch party instead. There are multiple election watch parties that are being planned by different organizations in multiple cities across the country. See if any of your local bars or on campus clubs are hosting one, and have a hoot watching the election! 🦅

Encourage your American friends to vote

The Globe and Mail reports that Canada is currently home to 700,000 American citizens. Political experts are theorizing that these American voters may have the potential to change the tide of election. American voters in Canada are being encouraged to vote early so as to not miss out on voting. Why not support your American friends in voting by setting a competition of who can get their vote in first? 🇺🇸

Escape to cottage country

Many folks find politics overwhelming, considering the current state of the world, and I am certainly in that camp. Though reading week has already passed, if election night is too overwhelming to you, why not escape to your cottage? Enjoy a restful getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, logging out in the woods, and pretending we are not indeed the folks that live just north of the border. Just be sure to forget your television at home. 📺

go to bed early and see the election results the next day

Escaping to cottage country may be too far to go, so why go to bed early and see the election results the next day? You’ll have no anxiety through the night, since you can just sleep through it. The morning may be rough, and you’ll either spit out your morning coffee to the best news in the world, or the worse news in the world depending on your camp. Perhaps it may be wise to book the day off of work too. 😴

Well, bud, how are you going to spend the American election? 🇨🇦

Gabriella Moro is a Her Campus writer for the uOttawa chapter. She enjoys writing about academia, books, culture, movies, music, and mental health. She would say that she is the Elizabeth Bennet of the dark academia aesthetic, which is why she is studying English and Celtic Studies. She is excited to give her readers the best recommendations for their next read à la #BookTok and watch à la Bridgerton. She is already a published author, having two short stories published in 2017. Both stories were published in short story collections by Polar Expressions Publishing, the first was “The Voice” in Progress, and “Ten Seconds” in Fortune. She has also self-published a short story collection called “on fall: the natural poems" under the pseudonym g. moro in 2020. Embracing her unique identity as a bi+ neurodivergent multilingual speaking female writer, Gabriella is passionate about building an inclusive world that includes a plethora of diverse voices. Even though she is likely to be seen at a protest, her favourite way to spend a Sunday is snuggled in with her cat, a warm cup of tea in her hand, and with a good book!