With one of the most contentious elections in modern United States history quickly approaching, Americans on both side of the border are preparing to make an important decision.

For those on the outside, the campaign has been both fascinating, and at times, breathtaking. But in a campaign filled with promises and putdowns, the election of 2016 seems to be having the opposite effect on the people being targeted by the candidates.

Former Pennsylvanian Judy Flora has lived north of the border for 30 years. Even so, she’s determined Hillary Clinton will get her vote.    

"I think Trump has increased the gap,” said Flora. “Pennsylvania is a swing state so every state counts, so I made sure I got my ballot in."

Massachusetts Republican Dave Hart acknowledges he's less than enthusiastic about his party's nominee, but his vote's been cast too.

“My vote's as much of an anti-corruption vote as it is a pro-Trump vote," said Hart. 

Hart and Flora are friends and coworkers in Halifax, but have an unspoken agreement not to talk politics right now.

“We haven't had a lot of discussions this time around. We kind of know where we stand,” said Hart.

The two may be on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but they're certainly not alone. There are thousands of American citizens quietly living in Atlantic Canada, and those who are eligible are being urged to cast their ballots."

At the US Consulate General Halifax, dozens of votes have been dropped off and hundreds of inquiries have come in about casting them.

But officials say voters who want to be heard are running out of time.

“We are telling folks that the last day to confidently ensure that your ballot gets back to the United States on time is Oct. 31,” said Peter Velasco of the US Consulate in Halifax

The US Consulate wants to remind Americans they're welcome to drop their ballots there and they will get to the United States, but the consulate is not a polling station and American citizens who haven't yet requested ballots from their home states might not get them in time to make them count.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko.