RALEIGH, N.C. — During the final stretch to Election Day, we assembled a panel of voters from various backgrounds for a conversation on what’s shaping their decisions this election cycle. Their voices reflect a broad spectrum of issues, from the economy to the border, foreign wars, the environment and more.

Economy [2:20 mark]

The latest inflation report from the Commerce Department before the election showed inflation dipping to 2.1% in September, just shy of the central bank’s 2% target. While inflation has cooled, the cost of goods remains higher than four years ago. For example, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows food prices have risen by more than 25% over the past four years.

“I’d definitely love to see the cost of eggs go down,” said Danyah Dahbour, a bakery manager. “The cost of living has definitely gone up, rent prices are higher than they’ve ever been.”

“The electric bill is astronomical,” said Roger Sherwood, a retired Navy commander. “It’s practically doubled.”

“When I think about the economy, it’s bigger than just inflation,” said Lennie Friedman, chief operating officer for VetOvation, a veterinary medical device company. “What policies are we putting in place to drive growth? The way to help people in need is to provide more jobs, provide more opportunities.”

Border security and immigration [3:54 mark]

The situation at the border is one of the top issues for Sherwood. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there have been more than 8.7 million encounters at the Southwest border.

“I’d like to see us follow the laws that are on the books,” said Sherwood. “My concern is we’re going to have issues here at home that we didn’t have before because we’ve allowed so many people in that we don’t really know a lot about.”

Friedman offered a counterpoint, highlighting FBI statistics showing a drop in crime.

“People talk about crime, but if you look at the overall statistics, they have gone down,” said Friedman, who would like to see more resources invested in local police forces.

Data released by the FBI in September shows violent crime down more than 10% in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same time last year.

Foreign wars [4:53 mark]

Our panel had strong opinions about America’s role in foreign wars, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“It is abhorrent to force my hand in genocide of my lineage and my people,” said Dahbour, who is Palestinian-American. “Our tax dollars should go towards our state, our city, and our country in general instead of sending it to a foreign entity.”

“I object to the characterization of the war as genocide unless you’re focusing on the killing of Hamas,” said Sherwood. “If you’re going to hide behind civilians like Hamas has done, then they’re setting us up for these kinds of issues. War is hell.”

“Hamas is a terrorist organization that butchered, murdered, and raped Israelis on October 7, and it is true that Israel has every right to defend itself,” added Friedman. “That said, it is a tragedy the amount of innocent people that have been killed in Palestine."

“There’s deeper soul-searching that our nation has to do. Yes, freedom isn’t free, but at what cost are we willing to rob the underbelly of our nation to maintain the illusion that we are powerful?” said Whittington, whose family members have fought in every war dating back to the Revolutionary War. “If we are the leaders of the free world, how exactly are we leading at home? How are we ensuring our people don’t have contaminated water or that we aren’t struggling to afford groceries?”

More than 42,500 people have been killed since October 7, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, and 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations. Children make up about half of Gaza’s population.

N.C. governor’s race [9:35 mark]

While polls show a dead heat at the top of the ticket, many indicate Attorney General Josh Stein holds a double-digit lead over Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Whittington supports Josh Stein because of his record. "I’ve seen him charge certain corporations for negligence and being able to cut down the center and say we will sue you if come against the state of North Carolina but more specifically against the people of North Carolina,” said Whittington, an independent who has been a registered Democrat and Republican in the past. “I like that kind of fight in someone that’s going to lead our state.”

For Friedman, the choice to vote for Stein has less to do with Stein himself and more with his opponent. “If you deny the 2020 election, you’ve lost my vote,” said Friedman, who voted for both Democrats and Republicans on his ballot. “His biggest competitor was Mark Robinson. Continuing to deny the 2020 election four years later is a nonstarter for me.”

Presidential race [12:08]

Some of our panelists didn’t feel represented by either major-party candidate. Dahbour wrote in a protest vote instead of choosing between Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Whittington, who chose Harris, said the issues that matter to her are on the ballot.

“Under this current administration by which Harris served a vice president, we were able to work directly from North Carolina with the Environmental Protection Agency and directly with the White House to purchase directly a new water treatment facility for the town of Maysville,” she said. “Those folks were without water since 2019.

While Friedman supported some of Trump’s policies, he says Trump’s denial of the 2020 results makes him unsupportable. His preferred choice was Nikki Haley. Sherwood is voting for Trump because he believes the previous administration had more effective policies that also made the world safer. “While I abhor some of the things he says and the way he characterizes things, I believe you don’t always get the candidate you want in the package you want,” said Sherwood. “You have to make decisions.”