Efficacy and Estrangement: Effects of Voting

Abstract

This study examined changes in political efficacy and feelings of estrangement as a function of voting behavior in the 2008 presidential election in the U.S. Participants (n = 224), recruited from an online marketing company's representative panel of U.S. adults, completed a survey 4‐6 weeks before the election and again 2‐4 weeks after the election. Changes in internal and external political efficacy and feelings of estrangement were examined for three groups of voters (McCain voters, Obama voters, and non‐voters) as well as by party affiliation. Internal political efficacy was and remained relatively high among Obama and McCain voters pre‐election to post‐election, but decreased for non‐voters. Among Democrats, there was a significant increase in internal political efficacy, among Republicans, there was no change, and among those with no or a different party affiliation, there was a significant decrease. External political efficacy significantly increased pre‐election to post‐election among Obama voters and non‐voters, but decreased for McCain voters. Additionally, post‐election cultural estrangement was significantly higher among non‐voters than voters. The results are discussed in terms of theoretical implications for understanding the potential impact of different forms of political participation. Several of the specific and distinctive aspects of the 2008 election and President Obama's campaign are also highlighted as they relate to voting behavior and potential changes in the American electorate.