American voter anxiety/ election frustration/ election emotions poll/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As Election Day approaches, an AP-NORC poll reveals that nearly 70% of Americans feel anxious or frustrated about the presidential campaign, with only about one-third expressing excitement. Amid a highly competitive race, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have presented starkly contrasting messages, leaving many voters unsettled and looking forward to the campaign’s end.
Americans Express High Anxiety, Frustration Over Election: Quick Look
- Anxiety and Frustration: Nearly 70% of Americans feel anxious or frustrated as the election nears, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
- Interest Without Excitement: While interest remains high, only one-third report feeling excited about the campaign.
- Voter Sentiment: Democrats report the highest levels of anxiety, followed closely by Republicans, while independents feel slightly less anxious.
- Campaign Fatigue: Feelings of frustration remain as high as in past elections, with many looking forward to the campaign’s conclusion.
AP-NORC Poll: Frustration Dominates American Feelings on Election 2024
Deep Look
As the 2024 presidential campaign reaches its final stretch, a majority of Americans are expressing high levels of anxiety and frustration about the race. A new AP-NORC poll found that approximately 7 in 10 Americans feel tense or frustrated about the election, with only one-third reporting excitement. This sentiment reflects a nation weary of a highly polarized and contentious campaign season, where voter emotions lean more towards fatigue than enthusiasm.
According to the poll, American voters are interested in the election, yet excitement is in short supply. Many feel that the race has been defined by stark contrasts, with Vice President Kamala Harris framing Donald Trump as a candidate focused on revenge and self-interest, while Trump has labeled Harris “a trainwreck” in recent rallies. With neither candidate holding a clear lead in key swing states or nationwide polls, the uncertainty has heightened feelings of unease across the political spectrum.
Some demographics report even higher anxiety than in previous election years, despite the unprecedented 2020 race that unfolded amidst a global pandemic. Democrats, in particular, have become more anxious, with about 8 in 10 expressing unease, an increase from roughly three-quarters in 2020. Republicans are also more anxious, with approximately two-thirds sharing this sentiment, up from around 6 in 10 in the last election cycle. Independents, however, report similar levels of anxiety to previous years, with only about half describing themselves as anxious.
In addition to anxiety, frustration is a persistent feeling among voters. The poll indicates that around 70% of Americans feel frustrated with the campaign, a sentiment that mirrors findings from the 2020 election. Many Americans are weary of political ads, debates, and divisive rhetoric, and they look forward to a resolution on Election Day.
Excitement, though still lower than other emotions, has seen a slight uptick. Around one-third of Americans report feeling excited about the 2024 campaign, a modest increase from one-quarter in 2016. Nonetheless, a majority remain unenthusiastic about the election, underscoring the disconnect between voter engagement and genuine enthusiasm in this race.
As November 5 approaches, many Americans are eager for the campaign to conclude, hopeful that the end of the election season will bring relief from the political tension that has defined recent months. The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,233 adults from October 24 to 29, 2024, using a probability-based sample from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel. The survey has a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points.
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