Survey: Growing Number of Americans Concerned About Election Misinformation

Misinformation Concerns Reach New Heights Ahead of November Elections

Americans are expressing unprecedented concern about misinformation as the November 4 state and local elections approach, according to a comprehensive new survey released by SmartNews. The study reveals that an overwhelming 82% of adults worry about deliberate attempts to mislead voters during this off-year election cycle.

Perhaps most striking is that two-thirds of respondents (67%) report encountering even more misinformation now than during the 2023 presidential election—a contest already widely regarded as one of the most misinformation-heavy campaigns in U.S. history.

“That level of anxiety is remarkable,” said Jason Alderman, managing director at SmartNews. “It’s only been a year since we’ve had a historic presidential election where people were flooded with misinformation, and yet our survey respondents told us 67% of them are seeing even more misinformation around this election than they did last year.”

The findings come at a critical moment for American democracy, as voters prepare to cast ballots in thousands of state and local races that will shape policy at the community level. These down-ballot elections typically receive less media attention than presidential contests but remain vital to governance across the country.

The survey, released on October 22, also revealed surprising areas of consensus across the political spectrum. Democrats, Republicans, and independents expressed similar levels of concern about misinformation’s potential impact on the electoral process, suggesting the issue transcends partisan divides.

However, the research identified a significant generational gap in how Americans perceive and process misinformation. Younger voters showed distinctly different attitudes toward artificial intelligence and social media as vectors for false information compared to older demographics. This generational divide potentially signals evolving challenges for election officials and media literacy advocates.

The surge in misinformation comes amid a rapidly transforming media landscape. The proliferation of social media platforms, declining trust in traditional news sources, and advances in AI-generated content have created an environment where false or misleading information can spread with unprecedented speed and convincing appearance.

Election officials across the country have responded by ramping up voter education campaigns and partnering with technology companies to combat the spread of election-related falsehoods. Many local election boards have created dedicated webpages to address common misconceptions about voting processes and ballot security.

The SmartNews survey also explored practical solutions, with Alderman highlighting the importance of media literacy and critical thinking. “We’re providing practical tips on how audiences can tell fact from fiction and avoid falling victim to misinformation,” he noted.

These strategies include checking multiple sources before sharing information, being wary of emotional content designed to provoke strong reactions, verifying dates and context of photos or videos, and using fact-checking resources.

Media experts caution that the problem is likely to persist beyond the current election cycle. The technological tools for creating and disseminating misinformation continue to advance, making detection increasingly difficult for average consumers of news and information.

The implications extend beyond elections themselves. Persistent exposure to misinformation can erode trust in democratic institutions, complicate governance, and further polarize communities already divided on policy matters. Social science researchers have documented how false beliefs, once formed, can be extraordinarily difficult to correct, even when presented with factual evidence.

As the November 4 elections approach, the challenge for voters remains navigating an increasingly complex information environment while making informed choices about candidates and ballot measures that will impact their communities directly.

The complete SmartNews state of misinformation survey is available through the company’s website, offering additional insights into this evolving threat to electoral integrity and public discourse in America.