Polarization and Democratic Accountability in the 2020 Presidential Election

Abstract

In a year marked by a global pandemic, economic collapse, and social unrest, the most striking feature of presidential polling thus far is its consistency. The hyperpartisanship of this polarized era of American politics has made most voters impervious to changing conditions. This raises serious questions about the utility of elections as means of democratic accountability.

Restoring resilience through joy: The pursuit of happiness in the midst of unprecedented times

“…Americans watched the election and social unrest play out through presidential primary debates, the 24-hour news cycle, and a contingent presidential race that many hoped would result in change for Black communities across the nation. On May 25, 2020, the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police was recorded and quickly went viral, sparking protests across the country and meeting the ire of Donald Trump, who throughout his presidency, took a staunch approach to systemic policing ( Bitecofer, 2020 ; Jacobson, 2020 ). Following the murders of both Breonna Taylor in March 2020 and George Floyd in May 2020, nationwide protests called for the defunding of local police leading to major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York City to cut millions of dollars in police funding ( Cobbina-Dungy et al, 2022 ).…”

Exploring the link between public health compliance and voting patterns in the 2020 U.S. presidential election

“…The Trump administration's handling of the pandemic, notably its emphasis on economic reopening over public health, added complexity to the crisis. This approach, as observed by Bitecofer (2020), complicated the management of the pandemic, especially as a notable segment of the population disregarded public health guidelines aimed at curbing the virus's spread. Moreover, the administration's reliance on political narratives and visual cues profoundly influenced the electorate's health behaviors, a prime example being the politicization of mask-wearing.…”