With only a fortnight left until polling stations open their doors, the countdown to ‘election season’ is certainly underway. This period, often known for its frenzied pace and heated political debates, is starting noticeably earlier than what we might traditionally expect. The acceleration in the election timeline is a significant phenomenon that bears attention – it not only affects the strategies of political candidates, but also significantly changes the landscape of voter dynamics and engagement.
One of the main reasons contributing to this earlier start is the increasing influence and reach of digital platforms. Social media allows political candidates to engage with voters in real-time, creating an unprecedented sense of immediacy and intimacy. Instead of waiting for scheduled debates or campaign rallies, candidates can now convey their messages, policies, and promises directly to the audience. It essentially stretches out the election period as the candidates no longer need to rely on traditional media timelines.
Furthermore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in the popularity of online campaigning and virtual town halls. Now more than ever, it’s possible for candidates to maintain a continuous and visible presence in the public eye, thereby extending the timelines. It can be argued that ‘election season’ is now not limited to the 15 days prior to the election day – it starts the moment a candidate announces their candidacy and begins campaigning online.
We are also experiencing a significant shift in the chronological nature of voting. Advanced voting and mail-in voting have become increasingly common and popular, particularly in light of the recent global health crisis. As a result, voting isn’t isolated to a single day, it spans over several weeks providing a broader timeframe for voters. This too contributes to the early kickoff of ‘election season’, as candidates need to ensure they’ve done a bulk of their persuasion and canvassing work well ahead of the early voting periods.
Moreover, voter’s approach to elections is changing as well. Thanks to the ready accessibility of information online, voters can start forming their opinions and making decisions much earlier in the timeline. This encourages candidates to jumpstart their campaigns sooner, to shape voter perspectives and build momentum. It’s a shift from reactive to proactive politics, where candidates are motivated to take charge of the narrative from the get-go and maintain it throughout the campaign period.
In conclusion, with the advent of digital platforms, novel voting procedures, and changing voter dynamics, ‘election season’ is starting sooner than it used to be. These combined elements have resulted in a paradigm shift that extends the election timeline way beyond the conventional 15 days remaining to the voting day. As a result, ‘election season’ is no longer a distinct, bounded period, but rather, an ongoing, dynamic process that starts earlier than you might think.
