San Francisco, California – Under a gold-leaf dome in downtown San Francisco, the usual procession of wedding parties tiptoed out of City Hall with freshly minted marriage licenses.

But a rival line was stretching down the stairs for another reason: Californians had arrived in droves to vote in the crucial 2024 United States election.

This year's presidential race was rich with symbols for the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the two main candidates, Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris, considers it her home.

She was born in nearby Oakland, grew up in neighboring Berkeley and built a reputation as a prosecutor in San Francisco that led her to a steep climb up the political ladder.

She was first elected as the city's district attorney and served from 2002 to 2011 in City Hall, just steps from the law school where she graduated.

She later became the state's attorney general and then its senator in the US Congress.

California is considered a Democratic stronghold and is part of the so-called “blue wall” of states that regularly vote for the party.

And as the most populous state in the country, the state has a whopping 54 votes in the Electoral College. Al Jazeera spoke to voters outside City Hall on Tuesday to understand what motivated their voters in this election cycle.

Anjali Rimi, social worker

Anjali Rimi stood in the shadow of City Hall's 300-foot-tall dome, hoping to encourage other voters to re-elect Democratic Mayor London Breed to a second term.

The general elections also weighed heavily on Rimi.

“At all levels – federal, state and city – democracy is at stake,” Rimi told Al Jazeera.

“What is at stake is the lives of immigrants. What is at stake is the lives of minority people like myself, or many of my fellow Muslims, Sikhs, non-white, non-male, non-Christian people who need to be protected in this country.

“What is at stake are the basic rights of every person in the world that we sometimes don’t see here in the United States of America. And that’s why this election is historic in many ways.”

Rimi's words reflected critics' concerns about Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate and former president known for his nativist rhetoric.

When asked why certain voters in the US do not see these basic rights, Rimi answered clearly.

“A lot of this has to be attributed to white supremacy. “It may not always look white, but privileged people and those in position want to continue to conquer, lead and brutalize this world,” Rimi said.

“So we don't see the problems of those who are on the margins – the many of us who came to this country to make it our home and who are simply trying to live happy and peaceful lives with our families , but still made it.” a connection back to our home countries.”

She added that she hopes to “protect Black and women leadership” this election cycle.

Melanie Mathewson, 26, political consultant

The decision to end the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court precedent in 2022 was a major issue in this year's presidential campaign.

On the one hand, former President Trump made clear during the campaign how his decisions during his time in office helped pave the way for the repeal of federal protections for abortion care.

“For 54 years they tried to end Roe vs. Wade. And I did it,” he said in January.

In contrast, Harris has advocated for restoring access to reproductive health care. “If Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, I will proudly sign it into law as President of the United States,” she said at a campaign rally earlier this year.

This debate inspired Melanie Mathewson to vote in the general election.

“What drives me at the federal level is women’s rights,” she said. “I would love to have children one day, and I want to make sure they have access to the health care they need for their bodies, no matter where I live or where they want to live.”

She also gave a nod to the anti-transgender, anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that has become a frequent theme in the Trump campaign.

“Whether I have transgender or gay children, I want them to feel comfortable and protected no matter where they live in this country, not just in California,” Mathewson said.

“I'm also very worried about my black and brown friends and my friends whose parents are immigrants, who aren't citizens and are just trying to find their way.”

She added that Christian nationalism shapes many of Trump's policies.

“Given the possibility that Christian nationalism will become the way we govern our country if Trump wins, I fear that there will be no freedom of religion and no freedom over our bodies,” she said.

Maddie Dunn, 23, and Matt Fitzgerald, 28, activists

Maddie Dunn and Matt Fitzgerald had shuttered storefronts in downtown San Francisco on their minds, hoping Election Day would bring good news for small businesses.

They hoped that ballot initiatives in San Francisco would lead to lower taxes and permitting fees for local businesses.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city's population fell by nearly 65,000 residents, hurting businesses.

“San Francisco has had the slowest COVID recovery in North America,” Fitzgerald said. “We have a lot of problems here in our downtown, with empty office space, small business closures and the like.”

Dunn explained that her father was a small business owner and that the downturn worried her.

“This is a problem that you really see every day: How well is your corner store doing? Or your café? And in San Francisco, the answer is that businesses are recovering, but they're still struggling with lower foot traffic and really thin margins,” she said.

However, both she and Fitzgerald indicated they would support Harris, who has promised to support startups despite skepticism from the right.

“She understands how important small businesses are to our communities. And with her economic plan, she ultimately has the approval of experts,” Dunn said.

For his part, Fitzgerald warned that Trump posed a threat to US democracy, citing his actions on January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

“I think the candidates couldn’t be more different,” he said. “I mean, you have a candidate, our former president, who literally tried to overthrow our democracy on January 6th, and you have a candidate who stands up for democracy, for women's rights, for LGBTQ rights. “

This election, he added, will be “a big fork in the road.”

Jennifer Fieber, 51, member of the San Francisco Tenants Union

There has been a housing crisis in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades.

Real estate prices are unaffordable for many residents, rental costs have risen, and a January 2024 city government report estimated that at least 8,323 residents are homeless – a likely undercount. More than 20,000 people sought help with homelessness over the course of a year.

Jennifer Fieber, a member of the San Francisco Tenants Union, cited the crisis as a primary motivation for her vote. She indicated she would support progressive candidate Aaron Peskin in his race for mayor.

“Renters make up 64 percent of the city,” Fieber said. “I think when you stabilize their housing, it has a profound impact on the working class and people's ability to live in the city. So we need candidates who will protect tenants.”

She explained that high real estate prices were pushing essential workers like nurses and teachers out of the city.

Asked which candidates had suggested platforms to address the problem, Fieber replied: “Actually, I think they've ignored it to their detriment.”

This also extends to the national level, she added. “I support the Democrats, but they have no real housing policy.”

Joshua Kelly, 45, stay-at-home dad

For housewife and stay-at-home dad Joshua Kelly, the road along San Francisco's Pacific Coast was motivation to get out and vote.

This four-lane road, known as the Great Highway, has been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for outdoor recreation. Residents like Kelly hope the road remains closed, especially as the highway faces the devastating effects of climate change.

“Our plan is to turn a coastal road that flows into the ocean into a park and promenade for the entire city,” Kelly said.

He argued that there was more at stake than just the fate of a road.

“What kind of city do we want to be? “Do we want to be a city that recognizes, embraces and plans for climate change?” Kelly asked. “Or do we want to be a city that prioritizes polluting, climate change-causing car trips and their convenience above all else?”

He praised outgoing President Joe Biden for taking some steps to address the climate crisis.

“Joe Biden was able to create one of the most comprehensive climate laws with the Inflation Reduction Act. And we see that a lot of renewable energy is being generated,” explained Kelly.

But he warned that continued activism was necessary to keep the issue at the center of national politics, regardless of Tuesday's outcome.

“I think we are part of a coalition that will put pressure on Kamala Harris to do that if she is elected as well. And if Trump gets in, he will push fossil fuels. He will end subsidies for renewable energy. He will send us back.”

Kelly also feared the violence that Trump could unleash if he refused to accept defeat at the hands of Harris.

“I’m concerned about the potential for violence,” Kelly said. “If the election somehow becomes disputed, there is a good chance that the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court will conspire to give Trump the election even though he loses the Electoral College votes.”