Dislike on the Ballot: Analyzing Negative Voting in Modern American Presidential Elections
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Authors
Sheppard, Paxton
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Since the 1990s, U.S. political discourse has become increasingly polarized, with growing negativity in political attitudes. Scholars have found that, while voters’ opinions of their own party have remained relatively stable, their views of the opposition have become more negative. Although negativity in politics is often seen as detrimental, it significantly influences voting behavior. This study explores negative voting patterns in the 2024 election, using an exit poll of 816 Lewis and Clark County voters. Results indicate that around one third of county residents voted primarily against the other presidential candidate, with higher rates among self-identified independent voters. Specifically, independents who voted for the Democratic candidate (Harris) displayed stronger negative voting tendencies than those who voted for the Republican candidate (Trump). These findings suggest that negative partisanship influences voter behavior differently across the electorate.