Constant TV ads and text alerts may be the source of your election fatigue
Political analysts say election fatigue is real. A barrage of television ads and text messages from candidates over the last two weeks may be turning some off from voting. But others find those ads and alerts a needed push to get out and vote on Election Day.
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The clock is winding down on this election season as voters are one day away from casting ballots.
But some may be experiencing election fatigue from all of the TV ads and text messages from candidates. As Election Day nears, voters can often feel bombarded by election ads, especially when negative.
“I think the negative press gets kind of exhausting. It makes me not really want to vote for either side. And it makes me not want to vote in general because I don’t want to put these kinds of people in power that are going to be throwing attacks at each other," said Bradyn Cheski, a political science student at Rutgers who was on her way to class in New Brunswick.
Cheski has already voted by mail, so the ads haven’t totally turned her off from casting her ballot.
Other voters along George Street in New Brunswick say they need that last-minute assist in deciding who to vote for and don’t want the ads and text message reminders popping up on your phone to go away.
“No, absolutely not. There are people who are last-minute. There are some who are unaware. There are some who might need that extra push," said Alfonzio Williams.
Williams says he is in favor of any information on the background of a candidate, where they stand on affordability, taxes, Medicaid and more.
“We all can empathize with the feeling of fatigue, feeling maybe annoyed by all the ads and other messages we’re receiving," said Katherine McCabe, an assistant professor at Rutgers.
McCabe is with the Political Science Department at Rutgers University. Despite the overwhelming amount of ads one is seeing, she says they provide a small boost to turnout. But they can change perception of a candidate and change a race.
“They can make some parties' voters more likely to turn out than another party's voters," said McCabe.
While voters will get a break once the polls close, don’t expect to see ads going away next election season.
McCabe says even if candidates turn one voter in their favor, it’s worth it.
