However, the spread of false information about the voting systems on social media destabilizes the public’s trust in election processes and results. The National Intelligence Council has found no indications that any foreign actor has interfered in the technical aspect of voting, such as voter registration, voting and casting ballots, vote tabulation or in the reporting of election results, which is great. ![]() The Recent Primary Elections Suggests This Challenge May Get Worse Before it Gets Better ![]() For instance, in a survey by Howard University’s Digital Informers, respondents were asked, “do you believe that your vote really counts?” 26% of respondents believed that their vote did not count. The implications of this trend are huge, as decreased confidence in the system decreases civic engagement. This pessimism is shared by the America youth as well, as 42% of the Harvard Youth Poll participants believe that their vote does not make a difference. Furthermore, 56% of respondents of a recent CNN poll said that they have “little or no confidence” that the elections represent the will of the people. An ABC NEWS/Washington Post survey found that only 20% feel “very confident” in the integrity of the U.S. In conjunction with the circulation of claims of election fraud and misinformation throughout the country, the public’s trust in our democratic system subsequently declined as well. Furthermore, in a 2021 survey by Howard University Digital Informers, a slim majority (51.5%) of respondents believe that “Black Americans are targets of fake news”. This survey also reveals that racial and ethnic minorities are highly susceptible to misinformation regarding voter fraud, as 38% of Latinos and 30% of African Americans think there might have been at least some fraud in 2020. The Collaborative Multi-Racial Political Study reveals that a robust 57% of white Americans believes there was voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, including 26% of whom believe there was definitely fraud in 2020. The “big lie” reinforced by President Trump about the 2020 election results amplified the Russian efforts and has lasting implications on voters’ trust in election outcomes. Throughout the 2020 election cycle, Russia’s cyber efforts and online actors were able to influence public perceptions and sought to amplify mistrust in the electoral process by denigrating mail-in voting, highlighting alleged irregularities, and accusing the Democratic Party of engaging in voter fraud. One of the drivers of decreased confidence in the political system has been the explosion of misinformation deliberately aimed at disrupting the democratic process. Sadly, according to this poll, over half of Americans (53%) expect political divisions in the country to worsen over their lifetime rather than get better. Amazingly, this suggests that Americans recognize that we are a bigger threat to our own democracy than any other potential external threat. Similarly, a Quinnipiac University survey reveals that 76% of respondents think political instability within the country is a bigger danger to the United States than external adversaries. ![]() A strong indication that the situation is getting worse and not better is that over 70% of respondents in that poll said that democracy is more at risk of failure now than it was a year ago. democracy is in crisis and is at risk of failing. ![]() A review of some recent public opinion research shows just how much.įor example, an NPR survey conducted earlier this year found that 64% of the American population believes that U.S. Research Intern, Governance Studies - The Brookings Institutionĭemocracy in the United States is in serious trouble.
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