Poster #114 - Violence At the Polls: are political tensions effecting mass shootings during election years?

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Political violence has plagued American since its conception 250 years ago. Government official has been assassinated, assassination attempts have been made, mass shootings attacking the general public, and if you wish to count it, the shoe that was thrown at former president Bush, are examples of this violence. With Americans reporting that they believe political violence is on the rise and a major problem facing our nation (Copeland and Kiley, 2025), The current study examines mass shootings across American during election years and non-election years and wonders about potential violence spiking during these specific timelines. Data is used from The Violence Prevention Project to evaluate the potential impact that election years have on mass shootings occurring in the United States. It is hypothesized that during election years mass shootings increase slightly across America as political tensions rise. The current study is significant for policy and research purposes by further understanding how to prevent mass shootings as a whole, but specifically during election years. It is important to understand how to properly implement policy and assist further research by placing preventative measures surrounding gun control and effective security measures in public spaces.

Authors

• Brooke Kinsey Jackson, Sam Houston State University

• Andia Azimi, Sam Houston State University