Will the US people be heard today?

Gary Younge sits in a restaurant in Denver, Colorado as America goes to the polls. Photograph: Dan Chung
Americans love democracy. Ask any American from any state whether these elections matter and they will tell you yes.

They say this unequivocally, regardless of whether they are actually going to vote or even whether they know the election is taking place. They will also tell you why. "Because the people must have their say."

But over the past 10 days, as I have asked people whether they think that their votes will actually make any difference to the issues that are important to them, I have found few who truly believe that anyone will actually listen to what they say once they've said it. Everybody knows their vote will make a difference to whom is elected. But few expect their candidate to be able to deliver on their promise.