Were you better off four years ago? Seven US voters weigh their options

Voters Sa’iyda Shabazz, Melanie Sparks, Jaclyn Cirinna and Ned Barnett. Composite: Courtesy of Sa’iyda Shabazz, Melanie Sparks, Jaclyn Cirinna and Ned Barnett.

This story is co-published with and supported by the journalism non-profit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project

This election may well come down to one critical question: whether voters feel like they are better off now than they were four years ago. Although experts say important economic metrics are doing well or trending in a positive direction, some Americans may not feel it when they stress about their tight budget.