In every election, swing voters are the wildcards that political campaigns focus on in the final stretch. Their votes can sway outcomes in tightly contested races. Recent polls suggest that about 18 percent of American voters have not decided between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Given how often I have heard that the upcoming presidential election will be decided by those currently undecided, I explored what exactly makes swing voters tick. While many assume they are indecisive or uninformed, swing voters often possess three distinct personality traits influencing their shifting political preferences. These traits reveal their nuanced decision-making process, making them critical players in the political landscape.

Swing voters often exhibit a high degree of openness to new experiences, a personality trait linked to curiosity, exploration, and a desire for variety. This openness means they are less likely to cling rigidly to one political ideology over time. Instead, they seek different perspectives, weigh them, and make decisions based on the current political climate rather than lifelong loyalty to a single party.

Take Kaitlyn, a 42-year-old mother of two from Ohio. Kaitlyn voted for the Democratic candidate in the previous presidential election but is now considering the Republican candidate. “I’m not tied to one party because the issues change, and my life changes, too,” she explains. Kaitlyn reads various news sources, listens to........

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