First-time voters in Türkiye: a thematic analysis from a political psychology perspective

Studies on young people’s participation in elections have largely focused on structural determinants, the formation of voting habits, or calculations based on rational choice. However, these approaches have limited scope when it comes to explaining how individuals experience and make sense of the moment they first become involved in electoral politics. To address this gap, this qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews with 26 young voters in Türkiye reflecting on their first voting experiences. The interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with the support of MAXQDA, and the findings were interpreted through four analytical lenses: affective intelligence, social identity, cognitive dissonance, and political efficacy. The findings show that voting behavior is shaped not only by strategic considerations but also by how participants understand their political identities and perceive their ability to exert political influence. The study shows that casting a first vote is experienced as a psychologically meaningful moment of political self-understanding, extending accounts of youth political participation beyond structural conditions and strategic reasoning.