Tracking Trust in the Fairness of U.S. Elections
After last week’s rebound, Republican confidence in the 2020 election outcome ticked down again this week: 32 percent of GOP voters say the election was free and fair, down 4 percentage points from last week. The movement has also driven further distrust in general confidence in the U.S. elections system.
The latest findings are based on a Jan. 22-25 survey of 1,990 registered voters nationwide, and are part of an ongoing research project to gauge the level of trust Americans have in their electoral system.
Key Takeaways
Republican trust in elections ticks down again: 33 percent of GOP voters say they trust U.S. elections, down from 38 percent last week.
Confidence that the 2020 election was free and fair hits a high point: 65 percent of voters say the election was free and fair, including 92 percent of Democrats and 32 percent of Republicans.
Few voters of either party say violence is ever appropriate: 14 percent of Democrats and 11 percent of Republicans agree that violence is “appropriate when citizens believe something is wrong with their government.”
A majority of Republicans support Trump’s decision to concede: 60 percent of Republicans say they support this decision, up 4 points from last week.
Democrats are more motivated to vote in future elections based on the outcome of this election: 53 percent of Democrats say they are more motivated, compared to 36 percent of Republicans. Republicans are also three times more likely than Democrats to say they are less motivated, 15 percent compared to 5 percent.
Republican Trust in U.S. Elections Plummets in the Wake of the 2020 Election
Survey conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among a representative sample of 1,995 registered U.S. voters, with an unweighted margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
65% of Voters Believe the 2020 Election Was Free and Fair
Survey conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among a representative sample of 1,995 registered U.S. voters, with an unweighted margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
Where Republicans Who Believe the Election Was Stolen Are Getting Their Information
Poll conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among 1,995 registered voters with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
Registered voters on whether violence is ever appropriate when citizens believe something is wrong with their government
Poll conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among 1,995 registered voters with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
Democrats Are More Motivated to Vote in Future Elections Based on the Outcome of This Election
Poll conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among 1,995 registered voters with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
A Majority of Republicans Support Trump’s Decision to Concede
Poll conducted Jan. 15-18, 2021, among 1,995 registered voters with a margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
Methodology
The findings above are based on national surveys of roughly 2,000 registered voters each, with margins of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Nick Laughlin is the Head of Content & Audience Development at Morning Consult. @nick_d_laughlin
Peyton Shelburne is a digital producer at Morning Consult.
