New Poll: Amid Widespread Uncertainty about What Disqualifies Eligible Americans from Voting, Broad Support for Policies to Increase Access to Ballot

Americans Polarized along Partisan, Racial, and Ethnic Lines about Biggest Problems Facing Electoral System

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PRRI

Jul 17, 2018, 06:15 ET

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new survey from PRRI/ The Atlantic, "American Democracy in Crisis: The Challenges of Voter Knowledge, Participation, and Polarization," finds an alarming number of Americans do not know what factors allow people to vote. The survey also finds large divides by political party and race regarding the issues facing the U.S. electoral system. Despite this, there is bipartisan support for a range of policies that increase access to voting.

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PRRI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy. (PRNewsfoto/PRRI,The Atlantic)
PRRI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy. (PRNewsfoto/PRRI,The Atlantic)
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The Atlantic (logo)

Americans 'Don't Know' What Disqualifies Voters
The poll found that anywhere from 26 percent to 60 percent of Americans do not know whether certain election laws exist in their state.

"Americans' lack of understanding of their state's voting laws is alarming for a mature democracy such as ours and indicates a broad need for civic education," said PRRI CEO Robert P. Jones. "As political campaigns become more sophisticated and competitive, there is a real danger that voters—particularly voters of color who report more difficulties voting--can be manipulated or discouraged from casting an eligible vote."

More than one in four Americans (26 percent) say that they do not know whether being a U.S. citizen is a requirement to be eligible to vote. The percentages of those saying they were uncertain about whether certain conditions would disqualify them from voting in their state varies but is remarkably high across the board:

  • Not having a permanent address (60 percent)
  • Being late to pay taxes (52 percent)
  • Having outstanding tickets or unpaid bills (47 percent)
  • Being convicted of a felony (43 percent)
  • Not being able to speak English fluently (36 percent)

Other notable findings from the poll included:

  • White Evangelical Protestants See Media Bias as Major Problem in Elections
  • Partisan, Racial, and Ethnic Divides on Problems Facing the Voting System
  • Bipartisan Support for Many Electoral Reforms
  • Black and Hispanic Americans are about two to three times more likely than whites to report experiencing difficulty voting the last time they attempted to vote.
  • The Popular Vote is Quite Popular
  • Demographic Influences on the 2018 Midterm Elections Continue Evolving

More information, including methodology, can be found here.

SOURCE PRRI

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