By james art 
As for who will win South Carolina’s nine Electoral College votes, there is very little question — former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the White House, is expected to slip away from the state, even though there are only two neighboring states that share a border — Georgia and North Carolina — spent most of this year’s election cycle as swing states.
But such certainty does little to quell concerns among some voters in South Carolina, whether they support Trump or his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Austin Highley, a Lancaster County voter, wouldn’t say who he voted for when we met outside his polling place Tuesday, but he said he was nervous about the future.
“Whoever wins, wins,” Hailey said. “But I guess I’m worried about what the consequences might be, given the sensationalism that’s spread in the media.” I worry about how this is fueling the flames in one direction or another.
Haley said he was concerned that the final outcome of the presidential race, regardless of the winner, could spark violence.
“I’m a little worried about the potential riots,” he said. “But obviously I’m crossing my fingers and trying to be optimistic that it’s not going to happen.”
Bryna Goss, also a voter in Lancaster County, said she is concerned about where the country is going.
“I’m kind of nervous,” Goss aid. “Depending on who becomes president; subject to taxes and housing costs.”
Goss is a student who said she is troubled by how difficult it is for young people to achieve anything in life when they can barely afford to pay for that life.
Young people, she said, “are also trying to pay off school debt while trying to find a place to live and a good-paying job.”
When I asked Goss how she was feeling in general, she said, “I just feel anxious.”
Another young voter, Darrell Woods, cast his ballot Tuesday in his first election in Chester. Like Haley and Goss, Woods did not say who he voted for in the presidential race. But like Hayley and Goss, he feels it.
“It’s nerve-wracking, to be honest,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on.”
Woods also agreed with Goss that housing, coupled with the cost of living in an increasingly expensive state, is difficult to navigate in the early 20s.
“The apartment fell through the roof out of nowhere,” he said. “The cost of living is crazy. Plus, the jobs don’t pay more, but everything goes up.
At the same time, Woods struck an optimistic note about how the future might play out.
“I’m young,” he said. “So it’s our turn to make a difference.”
Not all voters are concerned about tomorrow. Jessie Savilla, a Rock Hill constituent who supports the vice president, said she’s excited about the kind of future a Harris presidency could bring.
“I’m excited because we have a black candidate,” Savilla said. “And a woman. I think she did a great job of going out there and … she’s very positive.”
And what if the election doesn’t go her way?
“I have to take whatever comes my way,” Savilla said. “If she doesn’t win, I’ll have to accept the consequences. Whatever happens, happens.”
In Chester, Trump supporter David Atkinson said much the same.
“I believe we need to reverse course from the last four years,” Atkinson said.
But if he’s not so fond of the recent past, he said he’s excited about the future.
“I feel good,” Atkinson said.
And if the 2024 election doesn’t go his way?
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” he said. “That’s all you can do. If it doesn’t work out for me, I’ll just keep going, that’s all.