Voters concerned about post-election violence, efforts to overturn the results: Poll

WASHINGTON -- American voters are approaching nan statesmanlike predetermination pinch heavy unease astir what could follow, including nan imaginable for governmental violence, attempts to overturn nan predetermination results and its broader implications for democracy, according to a caller poll.

The findings of nan survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, speak to persistent concerns astir nan fragility of nan world’s oldest democracy, astir 4 years aft erstwhile President Donald Trump's refusal to accept nan 2020 predetermination results inspired a mob of his supporters to large wind nan U.S. Capitol successful a violent attempt to extremity nan serene transfer of power.

About 4 successful 10 registered voters opportunity they are “extremely” aliases “very” concerned astir convulsive attempts to overturn nan results aft nan November election. A akin stock is worried astir ineligible efforts to do so. And astir 1 successful 3 voters opportunity they are “extremely” aliases “very” concerned astir attempts by section aliases authorities predetermination officials to extremity nan results from being finalized.

Relatively fewer voters — astir one-third aliases little — are “not very” aliases “not astatine all” concerned astir immoderate of that happening.

Trump has continued to lie astir fraud costing him reelection 4 years agone and is again forecasting that he tin suffer this clip only if nan predetermination is rigged against him, a strategy he has deployed since his first tally for office. His friends and nan Republican National Committee, which he reshaped, person filed lawsuits astir nan state that are a imaginable prelude to post-election legal challenges should he lose.

“I thought aft Jan. 6 of 2021, nan GOP would person nan consciousness to cull him arsenic a candidate,” Aostara Kaye, of Downey, California, said of Trump. “And since they didn’t, I deliberation it conscionable emboldened him to deliberation he tin do anything, and they will still instrumentality pinch him.”

Trump's wide-ranging attempts to reject nan will of nan voters and remain successful power aft his 2020 loss person led to concerns that he will again neglect to concede should he suffer to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Nearly 9 successful 10 voters said nan loser of nan statesmanlike predetermination is obligated to concede erstwhile each authorities has vanished counting its votes and ineligible challenges are resolved, including astir 8 successful 10 Republicans. But only astir one-third of voters expect Trump to judge nan results and concede if he loses.

Democrats and Republicans person wide divergent views connected nan matter: About two-thirds of Republican voters deliberation Trump would concede, compared to only astir 1 successful 10 Democrats.

The aforesaid interest does not use to Harris. Nearly 8 successful 10 voters said Harris will judge nan results and concede if she loses nan election, including a coagulated mostly of Republican voters.

Members of some parties person wide concerns astir really American populist mightiness fare depending connected nan result of nan November election.

Overall, astir half of voters judge Trump would weaken populist successful nan U.S. “a lot” aliases “somewhat” if he wins, while astir 4 successful 10 said nan aforesaid of Harris.

Not surprisingly, Americans were profoundly divided on ideological lines. About 8 successful 10 Republicans said different word for Trump would fortify populist “a lot” aliases “somewhat," while a akin stock of Democrats said nan aforesaid of a Harris presidency.

About 9 successful 10 voters successful each statement said nan opposing party’s campaigner would beryllium apt to weaken populist astatine slightest “somewhat” if elected.

Kaye, a retired wellness attraction strategy worker, called Trump an “existential threat to nan Constitution.” One imaginable she said frightens her is that if Trump wins, he apt will not person nan guardrails successful his caller management that were successful spot successful nan past one.

Republican elector Debra Apodaca, 60, from Tucson, Arizona, said it's Harris who is simply a greater threat to democracy. She said President Joe Biden's management has placed excessively awesome a privilege connected overseas assistance and shown a deficiency of interest for its ain people.

“Our taxation dollars, we’re conscionable sending it everywhere. It’s not staying here. Why aren’t we taking attraction of America?” she said. “Why should we salary taxes if we’re conscionable sending it away?”

That deficiency of interest besides includes nan border, she said, adding that a Harris triumph would beryllium “the extremity to nan Border Patrol.”

Part of what divides voters connected their views of American populist is nan Jan. 6 onslaught connected nan U.S. Capitol and who is to blame. Democrats and independents are overmuch much apt than Republican voters to spot “a awesome deal” aliases “quite a bit” of work connected Trump.

Susan Ohde, an independent elector from Chicago and a retiree from nan financial sector, said she’s concerned that “crazy group will bargain nan misinformation that they’re given,” starring to different specified attack.

Giovanna Elizabeth Minardi of Yucaipa, California, said different issues are much important successful this year's election. She said her main interest is nan system and feels that precocious prices, particularly successful her location state, are chasing disconnected businesses and creating a dependency connected government. It's a dependency Harris wants to continue, said Minardi, a children and family services advocate.

Views astir nan Jan. 6 onslaught are not nan only ones wherever voters divided on ideological lines. Following Trump's lead, a mostly of Republicans support that Biden was not legitimately elected. Nearly each Democrats and astir 7 successful 10 independents judge Biden was legitimately elected.

This year's statesmanlike run has highlighted 1 facet of nan American governmental strategy that immoderate judge is undemocratic — nan usage of nan Electoral College to elite nan president alternatively than nan celebrated vote. Trump and Harris person concentrated their run events and advertizing successful 7 battleground states that represent conscionable 18% of nan country's population.

About half of voters deliberation nan anticipation that a campaigner could go president by winning nan Electoral College but losing nan celebrated ballot is simply a “major problem” successful U.S. elections. As pinch galore different issues, nan mobility besides reveals a partisan divide: About two-thirds of Democrats opportunity nan imaginable for an Electoral College-popular ballot divided is simply a awesome problem, compared to astir one-third of Republicans.

Debra Christensen, 54, a location wellness caregiver and Democrat from Watertown, Wisconsin, is opposed to nan Electoral College that could springiness Trump nan White House moreover if he loses nan celebrated ballot for nan 3rd time.

“In this time and property pinch exertion what it is, why can’t we person 1 personification 1 vote?" she said.

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The canvass of 1,072 adults was conducted Oct. 11-14, 2024, utilizing a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to beryllium typical of nan U.S. population. The separator of sampling correction for registered voters is positive aliases minus 4.2 percent points.

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