Still uncertain who to vote for in this presidential election? Wondering whether you can still register and vote? Unsure where to go?
Velocity has you covered, with a look at the policies and plans being proposed by each of the two main presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and former President Donald Trump, a Republican.
It’s easy to look up whether you’re registered to vote and find out your voting location. Just enter your name, birthdate and zip code on the website of the State Board of Elections. If you’re not registered, it’s not too late.
“You can still register to vote or update your existing registration for this election by using ‘Grace Period’ Registration,” according to the Board’s website. “Grace Period Registration extends registration through Election Day.”
Information in the voter’s guide below is based on the following sources: the candidates’ own websites, statements candidates have made in debates, rallies and interviews, and their involvement in any previous government policies.
ECONOMY
Kamala Harris
- Proposes to continue expanding the child tax credit
- Plans federal ban to stop price gouging–the illegal overpricing on grocery items
- Proposes a $25,000 grant for first-time home owners to help them afford their new homes
- Promises to build 3 million new homes for middle class households by the end of her first year in office. Plans to fund these homes by imposing a larger corporate tax, taxes on high-income earners and a 33-percent tax rate on capital gains, which will increase corporate tax earnings.
- Economists predict her policies will lead to a 1 percent increase in GDP by 2026, while inflation would continue to rise to a peak of 0.2 percent by 2028
- Helped get the Inflation Reduction Act passed into law, which fought inflation by investing in clean energy and fighting climate change
Donald Trump
- In his first term, lowered the corporate tax rate to 21 percent for corporations and business owners
- Proposes a 10 percent universal tariff on all imports to encourage domestic production, which economists generally agree will help American-made products bolster their markets but raise the cost on American consumers exceptionally, and greatly reduce U.S. trade
- Plans to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime
- Plans to cut regulations on American corporations such as those contained in the Green New Deal
- Plans to expand the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which saw corporate profits go up by 6.4 percent while corporate tax revenue dropped by 45.2 percent
- Has suggested the controversial proposal of eliminating federal income tax
- Economists say his policies are expected to decrease GDP by 1.8 percent by 2028
HEALTHCARE
Kamala Harris
- Plans to expand the Affordable Care Act to make it accessible for more Americans by slashing prices,and allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices with big pharma
- Wants to lower prescription drug costs and put a $2,000-dollar cap on all out-of-pocket drug expenses
- Helped get insulin prices capped at $35 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act
- Plans to try to get Roe v. Wade reinstated — hasn’t specified how, but has stated that she will never sign a national abortion ban into law
Donald Trump
- Has said since his first term he wants to abolish the Affordable Care Act
- According to the Republican Platform, plans to indirectly lower drug costs by removing the federal Affordable Care Act and encouraging competition and choice among insurance companies
- Plans to increase transparency, promote choice and competition by lifting regulations and governmental interference
- Appointed three U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the issue of abortion to state-by-state legislature. Abortion has since been banned in 14 states, notably, Texas, which has no exceptions
- Has stated that he is against abortion except in the case of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother, but has never specified whether he would sign a national abortion ban into law
IMMIGRATION
& FOREIGN POLICY
Kamala Harris
- Has called the current immigration system broken and plans to bring back the bipartisan border security bill that recently died in the U.S. Senate
- Plans to continue defending “Israel’s right to defend itself,” but also states that she and Biden are working around the clock to get a ceasefire deal done
- Still in support of Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and pledges to give $1.5 billion more in aid
Donald Trump
- Has repeatedly boasted about carrying out the “largest deportation operation in history” if elected again
- Says he will reinstate “Remain in Mexico,” ended by the Biden administration, and invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport any violent criminals or gangs
- Plans to again impose Title 42, a law that allows the president to halt migration under any and all circumstances–usually done in the midst of a public health crisis or wartime periods
- Has said that he will “Stand with Israel,” but hasn’t specified his idea for a solution in the Middle East
- Says he will meet with Putin and end the Ukrainian invasion his first week in office, but hasn’t given any specifics as to how he would end it
It is worth noting that while both parties pledge to support Israel and to continue America’s alliance with the country, Harris and Trump have differing views on the conflict in Gaza. Harris is most likely to be an advocate for a ceasefire and has repeatedly called Israel’s actions and the situation in Gaza as a whole a humanitarian crisis. Trump has shied away from the conversation for most of his campaign but has met with, and reportedly has close ties with, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump is more likely to send more aid to Israel to assist in its occupation in the West Bank and its mission to eliminate Hamas.
EDUCATION
Kamala Harris
- Assisted Biden in getting student loan debt relief passed
- Plans to increase the funding for Historically Black Universities and Colleges following the Biden administration’s $1.3 billion funding for HBCUs while she was VP
- Helped more students afford college by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $900
- Supports universal prekindergarten and less emphasis on standardized testing
Donald Trump
- Will support the “creation of additional, drastically more affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year college degree,” according to his platform
- Said he will stop funding to any schools that teach Critical Race Theory and gender ideology
- Plans to reinstate the 1776 commission in schools and support any public schools that use it. The report is known for its criticism of programs by progressive educators and recontextualization of U.S. history. It has been described as a counter to the 1619 Project
GUN CONTROL
Kamala Harris
- Supports a ban a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
- Has previously supported mandatory buybacks for assault weapons, although is not currently
- Advocates required universal background checks
Donald Trump
- Advocates for more protection in schools to limit school shootings by adding more security guards, bulletproof glass, and more metal detectors, according to his platform
- Wants to “replenish police departments,” building up a strong, formidable police force through more funding to state police, more extensive training and more legal authority for law enforcement, as provided on his platform
- Signed a bump stock ban into law when in office; ban was recently struck down by Supreme Court






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