As Election Day approaches, many voters are grappling with feelings of uncertainty. Fueled by heated debates, the influence of social media and the high stakes of a polarizing election, Bloomington voters have expressed intense fear and anxiety.
On Saturday afternoon, just three days before Election Day, people lined up outside Monroe County’s early voting site, eager to cast their ballots. While most Bloomington residents were excited to vote, they could already feel the oncoming dread of Nov. 5.
“I think it’s always stressful,” Ciara Richardson said.
The 24-year-old IU graduate student from Kentucky registered to vote in Indiana for the 2024 election. Richardson said the pressures of voting differently from people around her and the issue of women’s rights were her biggest concerns.
“It’s pretty clear that it’s an important election, especially for women,” she said. “As a woman, you have to vote for what’s right in your mind and your rights to protect.”
Reagan Perry, 20, also expressed concerns contributing to her anxiety toward Election Day.
“I have a lot of mixed feelings with the polarization that politics brings,” she said. “There’s going to be just chaos that’ll transpire regardless of who gets voted into office.”
According to a study from the American Psychological Association, a majority of adults — 77% — reported the future of the nation as a “significant source of stress in their lives.” Regarding the presidential election, 69% of adults reported feeling stressed about the 2024 election — 1% higher than the stress reported during the 2020 election and 17% higher than in 2016.
“People want to see things go a certain way in their own minds, and the anxiety comes from the fact of what if that doesn't happen?" Lisa-Marie Napoli said.
As the director of the IU Political and Civic Engagement program, Napoli works to involve both the campus and the community in healthy democratic practices.
"We have to recognize what's in our control and what's out of our control,” she said. “What's out of our control are the outcomes of the election. Once we cast our vote, that's the most we can do."
Napoli said one of the primary stressors for students during election season is intimidation. Challenges such as navigating voter registration, discussions about divisive issues and feeling inadequate in their electoral efforts all contribute to high anxiety levels among students. In response to these concerns, Napoli co-authored a guide with several resources to bridge campus divides for the 2024 election.
“We encourage disagreement but do so with curiosity and not hostility,” Napoli said. “We need to be calm in the face of chaos, acknowledging our emotions and releasing the pressure we’re feeling is important.”
She urged anxious voters to surround themselves with a strong support system and be present with themselves and others.
Bloomington resident Meg Anderson, 44, agreed with this sentiment as she cast her ballot on Saturday. She emphasized self-care as an essential routine during this overwhelming period.
“At a basic fundamental level, it’s just remembering my humanity, remembering my limitations, and doing the best that I can do,” she said. “Even in my consciousness and in my thoughts, toward myself and toward every other person, I practice kindness.”
