A former New York resident, Mrs Bonet mailed her ballot voting for Joe Biden - the Democrat party candidate in the United States elections - months ago.

At lunchtime Mrs Bonet was feeling disappointed, because it appeared Donald Trump was leading the presidential race.

Her sister in New York was holed up at home, scared to leave even for takeaway because of people on the streets.

Read more: Trump v Biden - How Bendigo Americans feel ahead of the 2020 elections

Mrs Bonet has lived in Bendigo since 2015, with her husband and children. She moved away from New York in 2008, but remains eligible to vote.

She doesn't agree with all of Mr Biden's platforms, but she tends to lean that direction politically. Her family has supported the Democratic party for a long time.

Mrs Bonet said Mr Trump just wasn't the best person for the job in her opinion. She was concerned about the young people watching how he acted, and thinking it was OK.

"I'm just disappointed that a country that's so modern and such a big world power can still hold on to old-fashioned ideas and conservative ideas that don't benefit everyone," she said.

"I'm conservative in my own life, I choose that, but I don't force that on other people."

US ELECTIONS, MORE COVERAGE:

Mrs Bonet said it was confronting to watch the election lead-up over the past weeks. She said it was disappointing to see friends who were pro-Trump, because it seemed like they supported the things he had done.

Mrs Bonet's family in America were awake watching the polls, talking back and forth with her on election day.

Her sister had worked at the polls leading up to the election, but not on the day itself.

"She was apprehensive to go today, because of the people that were there to intimidate other people, and some other people were armed," Mrs Bonet said.

"They were a bit scared to vote today and two other days.

"She's in her house and she's not wanting to go out to buy anything, even to get takeaway, because there's people on the streets being silly."

OTHER NEWS:

Mrs Bonet has voted every election since she turned 18, despite the USA's non-compulsory voting system.

She said it was important, because every single vote affected a seat's result, and - unlike Australia - the country couldn't change its leader halfway through a term.

Mrs Bonet voiced concern about intimidation techniques, such as people with heavy-duty guns on the streets. She said if those techniques were used, and got results, people would use them more and more.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.