If you’ve heard about a partial federal government shutdown (Oct. 1, 2025), but have skipped out on learning any or all of the details, political researchers say you’re probably not alone. However, they also say as challenging as it might seem, now is an important time for voters to stay engaged.
Julia Hellwege is an associate professor of political science at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and a distinguished professor and director of the Chiesman Center for Democracy.
She says it’s natural to want to refrain from taking part, but voters need to muster up motivation to hold leaders accountable, noting that many Americans still want a government that’s functional.
“We might differ on the kinds of values that we have and what policy outcomes that we want to see, but we want the government to work.”
Hellwege acknowledges people can feel deflated when news about politics fuels divisiveness. She says life’s day-to-day challenges are enough for most voters, and those challenges are compounded by mounting fears of political violence and what many academics and voters see as a toxic environment for public discourse.
“High elevated conversations about politics often falls by the wayside when we’re concerned about our grocery bills, and we’re concerned about how much gas costs and we’re concerned about our health-care needs, right? But ultimately, these are the actual decisions that the lawmakers are deciding upon, and so that’s only more recent for us to engage more.”
Hellwege says voting regularly, attending town halls and finding time to stay informed about policy matters are the best ways to maintain accountability checks on elected officials.
In a new Gallup poll, only 23% of Americans had a favorable view of the federal government– putting it at the bottom of the 25 sectors that were evaluated in the survey.
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