As early voting kicked off in Georgia for the 2024 election, voter turnout skyrocketed. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that over 300,000 Georgians cast their ballots on the first day—more than double the turnout from the same period in previous elections. While many attribute this surge to voter enthusiasm, a closer look reveals a different possibility: people are just ready to get this election over with.
Consider this—former President Donald Trump announced his third bid for the White House on November 15, 2022. That’s nearly 700 days ago. Since then, Americans have been inundated with news of indictments, a mugshot, political mudslinging, misinformation that would make Jussie Smollet blush, and two assassination attempts. That’s literally a recipe for election fatigue. It feels like the longest political season in history, and the season finale is still three weeks away.
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This isn’t just another election cycle. It’s one that has highlighted the increasingly toxic nature of American politics. There has been non-stop coverage and the ever-present noise of social media commentary. It’s hard to escape the overwhelming sense of fatigue that has set in across the country. This can be true for you even if you are not actively engaged in politics.
Sunshine Hillygus, a political science professor, explains it very simply. Extreme polarization and a complex media landscape have left many Americans exhausted by politics. More people, especially young individuals, are disillusioned and don’t align with either political party.
As someone who engages with politics daily, I get it. Many Americans are simply weary of the circus. This isn’t just about who will win or lose. It’s about the emotional toll of living through an election cycle that has lasted nearly two years.
My hot take: people are eager to cast their votes and check out.
They want to close the chapter on this drawn-out, tension-filled period. My own relatives stood in line to vote on the first day. Personally, I plan to wait until the lines die down, vote early, and tune back in on election night. Like many, I’m preparing for the inevitable drama that will follow a close race. But I would rather not stay glued to the noise leading up to it.
