Why are some voters still undecided? | The Ethical Life podcast

Episode 163: With the presidential election just weeks away, the latest episode of The Ethical Life podcast explores the complex challenge of engaging with undecided voters.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how the shrinking pool of undecided voters reflects the growing polarization in American politics.

"We've become much more polarized, and that could be that there's less overlap between views of Democrats and Republicans," Kyte explains. He notes that in 2016, about 10% of voters were undecided a month before the election, but that number has dropped to just 3 to 4% this year.

The hosts examine the different strategies campaigns are using to reach these elusive undecided voters, from large rallies aimed at energizing the base to individual door-to-door canvassing efforts. They also critique the formulaic, emotionally driven campaign ads that dominate the airwaves in battleground states.

The discussion challenges the common perception of undecided voters as disengaged. Kyte says a recent article in The Atlantic suggests "there are people who've been paying attention more than the rest of us" and are genuinely grappling with complex issues.

The hosts also tackle the ethical dilemma of whether it's appropriate for campaigns to focus on specific issues they believe will resonate with undecided voters in key states, even if those issues aren't the most pressing national concerns.

Richard Kyte: Voters face hard truths as Election Day nears

About the hosts

Scott Rada is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."