Symbolic Political Participation in the 2024 U.S. Election

Abstract

This study examines the growing prevalence of symbolic political participation—low-cost, expressive acts intended to signal political or social views—within the contemporary U.S. electorate. Using data from the 2024 American National Election Study, the analysis evaluates whether the individuals who engage in symbolic participation differ meaningfully from those who participate through conventional or creative modes. The project develops an index of symbolic participation and estimates a series of regression models to identify the demographic and attitudinal characteristics associated with this behavior. Findings indicate that younger adults are disproportionately likely to rely on symbolic participation in place of actionable forms of engagement, reflecting the convenience and expressive appeal of symbolic behaviors in modern communication environments. The study contributes to the political participation literature by clarifying the profile of symbolic participants and by assessing the implications of generational shifts for democratic engagement.