In the midst of a pandemic and economic uncertainty, the country has been anxiously awaiting next week’s presidential election. The question of who will lead America for the next four years will be answered shortly (I hope). But the long-awaited finality is not likely to bring any sense of nationwide calm. Either candidate win will strain an already-tense environment, albeit to varying degrees.

The United States remains divided between Republican and Democrat. According to Gallup polling, there has been an almost even split between party affiliations for decades with a sizable portion in the middle who identify as independents. Add to that a never-ending news cycle and social media, and partisan loyalties grow even stronger. As has been the case for several election cycles, voters are told this one is “the most important of our lifetime.” Of course, this claim is recycled each election by the party faithful to spur voters to the polls in defense of their beliefs. That ultimacy is useful before the election, but it is hard to extinguish from minds after the final votes are cast and counted.