Researchers at the 51在线, in collaboration with researchers at 51在线 International University, have released a second round of results from a nationwide survey. This set is aimed at measuring public opinion about several proposed electoral/voting reforms, as well as attitudes about the Electoral College.
Among the key findings:
Americans are divided on the security of voting by mail. Half of the respondents (50%) said that voting by mail is less secure than in-person voting, while 44% said that it鈥檚 about the same.
Sharp partisan divisions on the fairness of American elections. Respondents were divided on the fairness of America鈥檚 national elections: 54% were 鈥渧ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat confident鈥� that 鈥淎merica鈥檚 national elections are conducted fairly鈥�, though 46% said that they were 鈥渘ot very confident鈥� or 鈥渘ot at all confident鈥�. Partisan differences were pronounced, with 85% of Democrats being 鈥渧ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat confident鈥�, compared to only 27% of Republicans and 52% of Independents.
A majority of Americans support key provisions of the 鈥淔reedom to Vote Act鈥�. Nearly three-quarters say that they would either 鈥渟trongly鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat support鈥� a requirement for states to hold early voting for at least two weeks prior to election day (74%). A similar percent (74%) support making election day a federal holiday. Additional results include:
- Requiring states to allow same-day voter registration (64%)
- Requiring states to allow voting by mail (63%)
- Requiring states to allow online voter registration (62%)
- Requiring states to automatically register citizens to vote based on their official state documents 鈥� such as a driver鈥檚 license (60%)
While there is widespread support for election reforms, most Americans say that a valid photo ID should be required when voting. A larger majority of respondents (83%) say that voters should be required to show a valid photo ID when voting. Two-thirds of Americans say that it鈥檚 not difficult to register to vote under the current system (67%). Only 16% say that it is, while 16% are unsure.
A small majority of Americans would favor a change to a national popular vote when electing the president, but they are divided on the electoral implications of such a switch. A slim majority of 52% say that they would favor a change to the national popular vote (over the current Electoral College system). A majority (69%) feel that this would significantly change the outcome of Americans elections.
Overall opinions about the current Electoral College system are split:
- 40.4% say that the Electoral College ensures the representation of diverse interests
- 43.9% say that the Electoral College forces candidates to run 鈥渘ational鈥� campaigns
- 49.5% say that the Electoral College protects the interests of small states
- 17.5% say that the Electoral College unfairly favors Democratic candidates
- 20.4% say that the Electoral College unfairly favors Republican candidates
The survey included a representative sample of 1,000 eligible voters, fielded Jan. 6-10, 2022. Results are reported with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error +/-3 %.
The complete survey results can be found here.