Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-16-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Grace Rivera
Second Advisor
Joseph Wellman
Third Advisor
James Thomas
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, concerns about electoral fairness and integrity in democratic institutions became central to public discourse. This study examines how perceptions of election fairness and integrity mediate the relationship between political ideology and voting intentions. While prior research has demonstrated the influence of political ideology and trust in electoral processes on voter behavior (Birch, 2010; Stanziani et al., 2024; Schaffner & Streb, 2002), the mediating role of these perceptions remains underexplored. To address this gap, we collected online survey data from 524 participants, measuring political ideology, voting intentions, and perceptions of electoral fairness and integrity. The findings indicate that more conservative individuals report lower trust in electoral integrity and fairness, which subsequently predicts their voting intentions. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological and ideological factors shaping voter behavior, with implications for strengthening electoral trust and engagement in an increasingly polarized political climate.
Recommended Citation
Nyary, Amy L., "Trust at the Polls: Examining Perceptions of Election Fairness and Voting Intentions" (2025). Honors Theses. 3230.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3230
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