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Americans Divided on Election Integrity as Midterms Approach, Poll Finds
President Donald Trump’s sustained efforts to cast doubt on U.S. election integrity have significantly influenced American public opinion, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll that reveals deep partisan divisions over trust in the electoral system ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The six-day survey, completed Monday, shows that 46% of Americans believe large numbers of fraudulent ballots are cast by non-citizens in U.S. elections—a claim that persists despite extensive research finding such fraud to be extremely rare. This belief shows stark partisan differences, with 82% of Republicans agreeing compared to just 18% of Democrats and 38% of independents.
Mail-in and absentee voting—methods that gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic—remain particularly contentious. Approximately 53% of respondents expressed concerns about fraud in mail-in ballots, with 83% of Republicans worried versus only 33% of Democrats. Experts note these divisions come despite numerous audits and academic studies consistently finding negligible fraud in mail-in voting.
“People are responding to them, particularly Republicans, because they’re listening to the leaders that they trust, and it’s creating this vulnerability in people to believe lies about the election,” said Kelly Rader, research director at States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization working to safeguard election integrity.
The findings suggest many Americans have been primed to question results in the upcoming midterms, where Democrats are favored to regain control of the House of Representatives while Senate control remains contested. This skepticism comes amid voter concerns over the ongoing conflict with Iran and persistent inflation affecting household budgets nationwide.
Despite partisan disagreements on many election issues, the poll found some areas of consensus. Voter identification requirements received broad support from 77% of respondents, including 63% of Democrats and an overwhelming 95% of Republicans. However, the poll didn’t address more controversial measures like the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for federal election registration—legislation that has passed the House but faces significant challenges in the Senate.
The persistent belief in Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was stolen remains largely unchanged among Republicans, with 63% continuing to believe the election involved widespread fraud despite extensive investigations and court rulings finding no evidence to support this assertion. By contrast, only 9% of Democrats and 21% of independents share this belief.
One encouraging finding amid the partisan divide is that a strong majority of Americans—79% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans—express confidence that their own ballots will be counted correctly. Rader highlighted this as particularly significant: “These conspiracy theories about elections have not caused people to lose faith that their own vote will be counted as they intended,” noting that this confidence correlates strongly with voter turnout.
The poll also gauged public opinion on election security measures. Only 28% of Americans supported deploying troops to polling places, a proposal Trump has alluded to in recent interviews. Even among Republicans, opinion was divided, with 45% favoring such deployment and 54% opposed. However, there was stronger Republican support (62%) for having federal law enforcement present at polling places, compared with just 23% of Democrats and 36% of independents.
The Reuters/Ipsos online poll surveyed 4,557 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of 2 percentage points. As November approaches, these findings highlight the ongoing challenges facing election officials and media outlets in countering misinformation and rebuilding public trust in the electoral system—particularly as partisan messaging continues to shape voter perceptions of election integrity.
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10 Comments
This poll highlights the urgent need for stronger civic education and a renewed commitment to truth and facts in the public discourse. Restoring confidence in our elections is crucial for the health of our democracy.
Absolutely. Misinformation and disinformation pose grave threats, and we must find ways to combat them while upholding democratic principles.
The high level of distrust in the electoral system, especially among Republicans, is very concerning. Rigorous, independent audits and transparent processes are essential to reassure the public. Partisan rhetoric will only deepen divisions further.
The partisan divide on election integrity is troubling. While some concerns may be legitimate, widespread voter fraud claims not backed by evidence risk sowing dangerous distrust. We need leaders from all sides to reinforce the reliability of our electoral process.
Well said. Rebuilding confidence in the system will require bipartisan cooperation and a focus on facts over partisan narratives.
It’s worrying to see how deeply entrenched these partisan divisions have become on something as fundamental as election integrity. Addressing this issue will require a concerted effort to educate the public and rebuild trust across the political spectrum.
This is a concerning trend that could undermine faith in the democratic process. It’s important for all citizens to have confidence in the integrity of our elections, regardless of party affiliation. Reliable, nonpartisan sources should be consulted to understand the facts around voter fraud claims.
Agree, it’s crucial that voters have accurate information to make informed decisions. Solid election security and transparency measures are key to ensuring public trust.
This poll underscores how polarized and misinformed the public has become on election issues. Restoring faith in the democratic process will be an enormous challenge in the coming years. Voters deserve objective information to make their own informed choices.
Agreed. Nonpartisan election authorities and respected media outlets need to take the lead in providing clear, factual reporting to counter disinformation.