Personal attacks, perceived unreliable media coverage and politicians’ extreme partisan division all are driving both experienced and new voters to steer clear of politics all together or get more engaged as the 2020 election nears.
That is according to several interviews conducted this month in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.
A common belief among older voters is that news has become a place of bullying and bashing rather than a place to get information.
Shawn Bates, 46, described political conversation as, “far more toxic, deeply partisan, and personal.”
Jackie Martinez, 19, an American University student from Chicago, considers voting in the United States a privilege because she knows so many people from other countries who didn’t have that right. But, she also thinks political polarization is causing a more radicalized electorate, and said even infighting within political parties is shifting people’s viewpoints and making it harder to find common ground.
“It has changed a lot,” Martinez said of the political landscape. “It’s more about good and bad and no compromise.”
Several voters interviewed on American University’s campus and in the Tenleytown neighborhood of the district, agree that politics is a kind of war zone between political parties.
Behzad Jalali, 65, was born in Iran and believes political participation is “very important.” He has been in the United States for more than 40 years, and he has witnessed a huge shift in political polarization.
The deep polarization between parties is causing some young voters to disengage.
“I knew voting was important but I wasn’t in to it,” said Sarah Sleiman, 22.
Sleiman said she gets her news from Twitter, which seems to be a common source among young voters.
Rashard Flowers, 34, who was waiting for a car to pick him up in Tenleytown, said polarization is affecting all Americans.
“Everyone is okay with people disagreeing,” Flowers said. “People want someone who can satisfy both sides.”