The New Voices in Politics: How the 2024 Presidential Election Effected First-Time Voters at Kean University

Kristina Chalmers

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: Psychology

Faculty Research Mentor: Joshua Burnett

Abstract:

This study examines how the 2024 presidential election effects first-time voters at Kean University. To conduct this study, a mixed-methods approach was used to gather data effectively. The current political climate is intense and can be stressful for many, new voters especially feel this stress as they learn to navigate how politics and elections work. It was hypothesized by the researcher that first-time voters feel stress during the election mainly because they are voting for the first time. The key findings from this study show that most first-time voters feel more stressed out than usual during the election, but it isn’t because they are first-time voters. There are other factors that contribute to this stress, and it isn’t voting itself that is a stressor. The largest factor seen throughout the study was that race and gender had the most to do with how stressed participants were about the election. Understanding how and why participants are stressed can help the university provide more resources for their students to better their mental health during the election.