Americans are more anxious about the election than they were 4 months ago, new Yahoo News/YouGov poll finds. Experts blame volatile times, tight race.
If the mere thought of the Nov. 5 matchup between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump makes your palms sweat and heart rate increase, you’re not alone. A new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that a majority of Americans are anxious about the 2024 presidential election — and they’re even more stressed out than they were four months ago.
The survey of 1,755 U.S. adults, which was conducted from Sept. 11 to Sept. 13, found that 67% of Americans are feeling either very anxious (31%) or somewhat anxious (36%) about the presidential election in November.
This was particularly pronounced among Democrats and voters who said they were likely to cast their ballot for Harris; 71% of Democrats versus 69% of Republicans described themselves as very or somewhat anxious. And 79% of Harris voters said they were very or somewhat anxious, compared to 71% of Trump voters.
Top sources of anxiety were the effect the election outcome would have on the economy (64%) as well as on political violence (60%). Nearly half of Americans (48%) said they were anxious that the election results won’t be accepted, and over a third of Americans (39%) said they were anxious that the election will be stolen.
These latest poll numbers show a 7% jump in election anxiety since the last time Yahoo News/YouGov surveyed Americans on the subject in May. Four months ago, a total of 60% of respondents described themselves as feeling very (29%) or somewhat (31%) anxious about the presidential election.
Why are people more anxious now?
There are likely a few triggers responsible for the increase in election anxiety, according to mental health experts.
It has been an unprecedented election cycle. Dr. Nina Vasan, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Stanford, tells Yahoo Life that the election has “changed dramatically since May.” President Biden’s debate performance and subsequent decision to drop out of the race, Harris’s whirlwind rise to being the Democratic Party nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s exit and two assassination attempts on Trump (though the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll was conducted before the most recent apparent attempt on Sept. 15) have made for a “uniquely anxiety-provoking election,” Vasan says. “People are feeling uncertain about what the future will look like and the drama of the last few months is exhausting.” The new polling found that Americans were divided over how Biden’s decision to leave the race affected their anxiety. A total of 32% of Americans said they were much less anxious (14%) or somewhat less anxious (18%) about the election since Biden dropped out, while 27% of Americans said they were much more anxious (12%) or somewhat more anxious (15%) about the election since Biden dropped out.
We’re living in volatile times. Kirk Schneider, a clinical psychologist and author of Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World, tells Yahoo Life that the Trump assassination attempts, in addition to intensifying world crises like the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, can make it feel like chaos and volatility are coming at us from all sides. “The world feels increasingly unpredictable to many people — and unpredictability, the radically unknown, is one of the core bases for anxiety,” he says.
The candidates are neck and neck. Schneider also points out Harris and Trump are in a virtual tie. While Harris saw a slight bump in poll numbers after the debate on Sep. 10, it’s still an incredibly tight race.
We’re getting closer to Election Day. As Nov. 5 draws nearer, experts say it’s understandable that anxiety would start to spike. “When stressful events are farther away, they feel less threatening,” Chloe Carmichael, a clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety, tells Yahoo Life. “As they get closer, anxiety can heighten.”
Here’s what you can do about it
There’s still over six weeks to go until Election Day — meaning there’s plenty of time for “October surprises” and other anxiety-inducing events to get your blood pressure going. But experts say there are several coping methods you can deploy to make it to Nov. 5 (and possibly beyond).
Confide in someone you trust. Normalizing election anxiety can decrease “the intensity of anxious feelings,” Vasan says. And Schneider adds that seeking comfort — or commiseration — with those close to you can help you process your feelings.
Do your research. Because uncertainty increases anxiety, Carmichael says you should do what you can to get informed — but do so from primary sources that won’t add an emotional spin designed to get you riled up. “I would suggest going directly to the websites of the candidates to learn firsthand from them about their positions and policies,” she says.
Take action … Carmichael adds that it's good to remember that the healthy function of anxiety is to stimulate preparation behaviors. “This means you might channel your anxiety into registering to become a poll watcher, collect signatures for your favorite candidate or find some other way to put your anxiety towards constructive action,” she says.
... and then take a break. But when necessary, experts say it’s also important to know it’s OK to take a step back. Schneider suggests going on a “news diet.” Vasan says she’s advising her patients to decrease their consumption of election-related media and time spent on social media. “Having clear boundaries and time limits can help prevent the constant bombardment that is so disturbing,” she says.
Practice the usual anxiety-reducing tips. While you’re taking an election news detox, do other things that bring you joy — like journaling, exercising, reading, meditating or engaging in a creative project. And of course: Get plenty of rest.
We want to know how you're feeling ahead of Election Day. Are you nervous? Excited? Are you making plans to tune out the political noise that day? Please share your thoughts here and they may be used in an upcoming article. Submissions close on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
