When it comes to a democracy, people want election results they can trust. That means making sure the count is accurate and that the winner is determined by the right process.
During the first major elections since Donald Trump’s return to power, voters rejected candidates and policies aligned with the president’s party in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, and other states. They also overwhelmingly backed Democratic candidates in ballot measures and state Supreme Court races across the country.
A key factor behind the surprise victory was economic concerns over rising costs for things like groceries and energy. This was a key issue for Democrats running for governor in Virginia and New Jersey and in other states where voters made their choice early on. It was a central message in the campaigns of Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Rep. Mikie Sherrill. And it was the reason that many voters saw a “blue wave” in their local districts.
People’s satisfaction with the electoral system depends on whether or not the outcome matches or exceeds their expectations and forecasts. The gap between the expected and actual result is what is called disconfirmation. A positive disconfirmation leads to higher confidence or satisfaction while a negative one leads to lower confidence or dissatisfaction. This is why it is so important to choose sources of information that can be trusted, rather than seeking out sensational or inflammatory headlines. To do this, check in with reputable news outlets in addition to your usual sources (such as TikTok or Facebook) and stay away from tabloids and partisan websites that are more likely to promote hysteria over the results.