Voters in the U.S.A. are set to make a decision in what has been described as one of the country's nastiest presidential elections, with two candidates who have been labelled the least-likeable in recent history.
November 8th will see voters decide who will become Commander-in-Chief of the world's most powerful nation for the next four years.
Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have been locked in a relentless battle for the presidency since they were selected by their parties in July.
Many voters have expressed extreme frustration and believe the scandals and allegations of corruption in this campaign have completely overshadowed the real issues and what really matters to the American people.
Māori Television is in Washington DC and has asked voters in the capital for their thoughts on the presidential campaigns of both candidates.
Both Republican and Democratic supporters alike expressed frustration with the campaign, with some describing it as "disgusting", "a complete mess", "a disgrace to the country" and some mentioning they were "completely fed up."
Miriama Patterson will be among those casting a vote in the presidential election.
She told Māori Television she wasn't satisfied with either candidate's lack of focus or response to what the Standing Rock Sioux are facing in their attempts to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
She says, "I think actually this issue is just as important as the election, if not more so because you know it's not just about supporting the Sioux Nation, that's just a beginning, people have to wake up, that's a start. That's not just here in America, that's worldwide. If they're allowed to get away with what they're doing now in the Sioux Nation then it just keeps on going."
Most recently Hillary Clinton has been urged to take a stand and show support for the indigenous nations in North Dakota attempting to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
A violent confrontation erupted between those opposing the pipeline and armed authorities last week. Those who have described themselves as water protectors were sprayed with mace, beaten with batons, their horses were shot with rubber bullets and many were arrested and removed.
Not long after a group of Native American youth erected a tepee in Clinton's campaign headquarters in Brooklyn, New York urging the Democratic candidate to support their call to put an end to construction.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders issued an open letter on his official U.S Senate website calling for current President Barrack Obama to stop the construction.
His letter stated: “It is deeply distressing to me that the federal government is putting the profits of the oil industry ahead of the treaty and sovereign rights of Native American communities, Mr. President, you took a bold and principled stand against the Keystone pipeline – I ask you to take a similar stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline.”
After growing requests for a statement and a call from Indigenous leaders, Clinton's office finally issued a relatively benign statement to Indigenous media which read:
"We received a letter today from representatives of the tribes protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. From the beginning of this campaign, Secretary Clinton has been clear that she thinks all voices should be heard and all views considered in federal infrastructure projects. Now, all of the parties involved—including the federal government, the pipeline company and contractors, the state of North Dakota, and the tribes—need to find a path forward that serves the broadest public interest. As that happens, it's important that on the ground in North Dakota, everyone respects demonstrators' rights to protest peacefully, and workers' rights to do their jobs safely."
The Guardian reported that Republican candidate Donald Trump had financial interests in Energy Transfer Partners. the company overseeing the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
As the Standing Rock Sioux vow to continue their battle to stop the pipeline, the battle between the leading presidential candidates is instead centered on the FBI re-opening an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and texts.
Political commentators and analysts have described the propaganda and rhetoric surrounding this election campaign as the most bizarre they have ever encountered.
Examples of candidate’s campaign advertisements can be viewed below: