A new national survey finds only 46% of likely voters expect every ballot to be counted accurately in the November 3 midterm elections, reflecting widespread concerns about election integrity across both political parties.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Fewer than half of likely American voters believe all ballots will be counted accurately in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a national poll released Tuesday, October 13, highlighting growing distrust in the election process just three weeks before voters decide control of Congress.
The NewsNation-Decision Desk HQ survey found that 46% of likely voters expressed confidence that all votes would be accurately counted. Another 27% identified mail-in ballot counting as their primary concern, while 14% believed Republicans would change vote totals and 13% believed Democrats would do so.
The findings reveal concerns about election administration across partisan lines, although voters differ over which aspects of the process they consider most vulnerable.
The survey also examined whether doubts about election accuracy would affect participation. While 29% said their concerns would not influence their decision to vote, 22% said they were more motivated to cast ballots because they believed overwhelming turnout could counter potential fraud.
Only 3% said concerns about election integrity discouraged them from voting. However, 46% did not answer the question, limiting conclusions about how distrust might affect overall participation.
Geoffrey Skelley, chief elections analyst at Decision Desk HQ, said Americans’ perceptions of election integrity have increasingly reflected partisan divisions.
“Republicans have shown in recent years more doubt about election results, and obviously a lot of this has to do with the 2020 election and President [Donald] Trump’s rhetoric surrounding it,” Skelley said.
With Trump serving his second term, Skelley added, some Democrats are also reluctant “to trust that results will be counted fairly as well.”
The poll was conducted October 5–9 by TrueDot.ai, an artificial intelligence research platform, among 974 likely voters. Its reported margin of error was 3.2 percentage points.
The findings are consistent with earlier research indicating widespread public concern about political interference in elections.
A Gallup survey released in July found that 67% of Americans were concerned about political leaders pressuring election officials to change election outcomes.
That concern extended across party lines, although Democrats expressed greater anxiety than Republicans. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats and 56% of Republicans said they were worried about political pressure affecting election results.
The Gallup findings also showed that 80% of respondents were concerned about political leaders knowingly taking potentially illegal actions, while 78% worried about large anonymous political donations and 77% expressed concern about partisan manipulation of congressional district boundaries.
Approximately 40% said they were concerned about being confronted, followed or recorded while voting.
The survey further found that 57% of Americans were worried about ballots being improperly handled, counted or secured. Republicans expressed greater concern about ballot security, while Democrats were more likely to fear political interference and voter intimidation.
Gallup surveyed more than 23,000 U.S. adults between April 24 and June 10, providing a broader assessment of public attitudes toward election administration and democratic institutions.
The results illustrate that doubts about election integrity are not confined to one political party, even as the specific concerns vary substantially.
Election officials across the country are preparing for the November 3 vote as early voting begins in multiple states. Procedures for ballot verification, tabulation, recounts and certification vary by jurisdiction, with state and local authorities responsible for administering elections.
Public perceptions of potential fraud or political interference do not establish that ballots have been improperly counted or that either party intends to manipulate results.
Nevertheless, the surveys suggest that election administrators face a substantial challenge in maintaining public confidence as Americans prepare to cast their ballots.
With control of Congress at stake, the latest findings indicate that concerns about the accuracy and legitimacy of election results could remain prominent before and after Election Day.
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