🗳️ The Real Reason Your Brain is Tired by the End of the Ballot (It’s Science!)

🤯 Why Do We Feel So Tired by the End of the Ballot?

Let’s Break it Down

Ever felt brain-drained by the time you reached the end of a long ballot? You’re not alone! Let’s take a look at the science behind “voter fatigue.” But first…some trivia!

How it Works

What is Voter Fatigue? 🥱

Ever reached the bottom of a long ballot and felt… drained? That’s voter fatigue! Voter fatigue is what happens when our brains get tired from making lots of decisions in one go, and it can happen to anyone facing a ballot with a long list of candidates, propositions, and measures. Psychologists call this a form of decision fatigue — which is like brain exhaustion after making a series of choices.

Decision Fatigue, Explained Simply 🧠

Decision fatigue is what happens when making lots of choices in a short time becomes hard. Just like physical muscles, your brain can feel tired if it has to make too many decisions one after the other. And unlike a tired arm, decision fatigue doesn’t just make us slower; it actually influences our decisions, making us more likely to choose something we wouldn’t normally go for.

Why Long Ballots Make Us Tired 📋

In an election, the brain works hard to weigh options and remember information for each choice. With each additional choice, the brain uses up more mental energy. Eventually, it can feel like too much, and our brains start to simplify things, leading to shortcuts like picking the first name on a list or randomly choosing. For some people, it might even lead to skipping parts of the ballot altogether, especially as they get to later sections.

How Our Brains “Short-Cut” During Fatigue 🚶‍♂️➡️🗳️

When fatigued, the brain tries to simplify. This can mean picking choices quickly based on things like familiarity or what we heard last, rather than thinking each one through. It’s a natural response to feeling overwhelmed. The key takeaway: the more we ask of our brain in one sitting, the less energy it has for each new question.

What Can Help? 🔋

Some voters break down choices into smaller groups over several days to mentally prepare, while others research candidates and issues beforehand, so they have fewer decisions to make on Election Day. For anyone feeling “decision burnout,” this helps conserve that precious brain energy.

Voter fatigue is a real psychological effect caused by too many decisions at once. Our brains prefer shorter, more manageable lists to keep each choice thoughtful — but when faced with long ballots, they often opt for quick decisions to get through.

By The Numbers

Did You Know?

In some places, candidates’ names are rotated on ballots to make sure everyone has an equal shot at being “first”!

Impress Your Friends

Hit ‘em with some obscure knowledge: Decision fatigue can cause voters to skip over or randomly choose options on a long ballot.That’s why ballot order can actually impact election results.

Want to Know More?

For more on this topic, check out these articles:

• Ballot Position, Choice Fatigue, and Voter Behavior from The Review of Economic Studies​

• How Choice Fatigue Affects Voter Behaviour: The Phenomenon of Ballot Fatigue for a broader overview and practical insights on reducing fatigue in elections​

Answer Reveal! 🥁

The correct answer is Picking a movie to watch after a long day of work. After a full day, your brain has already made a lot of decisions, so making even one more choice (like picking a movie) can feel extra tiring.

P.S.

Next time, bring snacks for your brain—research shows chewing gum can boost focus! 🧠