Politics

Scenes From a Battleground Philadelphia Suburb on Election Day

Photos from the nation’s most critical swing state paint a picture of two Americas at odds with each other.
Image may contain Adult Person Chopsticks and Food
Signs supporting presidential candidates lie on a table at a polling station in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Election Day.Photograph: Alex Kent

Pennsylvania Is the essential battleground state for the 2024 election: Whoever wins here will likely be in the White House next year. Photographer Alex Kent spent time today in Warrington Township, a suburb of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. What we saw was a town divided. Signs reading “Communists” and “Fascists” plaster the streets, illustrating a tale of two Americas at odds with each other.

As a contentious election season finally comes to a close, we saw a desperate plea from this small community, people of all political persuasions pushing their messages before time runs out. It's still too early to say where this state will land. But we do know that whatever the result, the division that occurred along the way may be hard to repair.

Signs supporting Trump are seen along the road outside Doylestown Pennsylvania.

Signs supporting Trump are seen along the road outside Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A sign outside a polling station in Warrington Pennsylvania.

A sign outside a polling station in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A Trump sign on the ground outside a polling station in Bucks County Pennsylvania.

A Trump sign on the ground outside a polling station in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A voter walks by a after casting their ballot at a polling station in Warrington Pennsylvania.

A voter walks by a after casting their ballot at a polling station in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A farm across the street from a polling location in Warrington Pennsylvania.

A farm across the street from a polling location in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A voter shows her “I Voted” sticker on her custommade Tshirt in Warrington Pennsylvania.

A voter shows her “I Voted” sticker on her custom-made T-shirt in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
Voters line up at a polling station in the evening in Warrington Pennsylvania.

Voters line up at a polling station in the evening in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A voter lines up at a polling station in Warrington Pennsylvania.

A voter lines up at a polling station in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
A Trump supporter holds his Trump sign behind Joe Fredericks homemade sign outside a polling station in Bucks County...

A Trump supporter holds his Trump sign behind Joe Frederick’s homemade sign outside a polling station in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
Image may contain Mike Haynes Clothing Hat Adult Person Advertisement Sign Symbol City Poster Urban Box and Tent

A Trump supporter holds his Trump sign behind Joe Frederick’s homemade sign outside a polling station in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
Image may contain Accessories Jewelry Necklace Clothing TShirt Coat Jacket Person Long Sleeve and Sleeve

Sheela Rai shoes her “I Voted” sticker outside a polling station in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
Image may contain Advertisement Sign Symbol Banner Text Nature Outdoors Yard and Poster

Signs supporting Harris/Walz are seen along the road in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
An “I Voted” sticker lies on the ground covered in bird feces outside a polling station in Doylestown Pennsylvania.

An “I Voted” sticker lies on the ground covered in bird feces outside a polling station in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent
Image may contain Flag Plant Vegetation Grass Nature Outdoors Park Land Tree Woodland Yard and Advertisement

Signs supporting Harris/Walz are seen along the road outside Doylestown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Photograph: Alex Kent

You can follow all of WIRED's 2024 presidential election coverage here.