What is ballot fatigue?

Ballot fatigue refers to the phenomenon where voters become tired or disinterested in completing a long ballot, particularly in elections with a large number of candidates or ballot measures. As voters continue down the ballot, they may become overwhelmed or fatigued by the sheer number of choices presented to them, leading to a decrease in voter participation or engagement in races further down the ballot.

Ballot fatigue can have a significant impact on election outcomes, as voters may skip or hastily choose candidates or measures toward the end of the ballot without fully considering their options. This can result in candidates or measures further down the ballot receiving fewer votes or being overlooked entirely.

To combat ballot fatigue, election officials may make efforts to simplify the ballot, group similar candidates or measures together, or provide relevant information to help voters make informed choices. Additionally, encouraging voter education and outreach efforts can help mitigate the effects of ballot fatigue and ensure that voters are engaged and informed throughout the entire voting process.