A recent survey reveals a significant distrust between Democrats and Republicans, yet most voters believe the upcoming election results will be accurate. Nearly half of U.S. voters feel that the government poorly represents ordinary citizens, while many express skepticism about the effectiveness of self-governance. About three-quarters believe democracy is under threat, according to one of the final polls before the November 5 presidential election.
The poll, published by the New York Times in collaboration with Siena College, highlights a deeply divided political landscape, with both sides expressing distrust towards one another and doubts about the current democratic system. However, a majority agree that corruption is a major issue, with 62% stating the government primarily serves itself and elites rather than the collective good.
Furthermore, 58% of respondents believe that the financial and political systems require significant changes or a complete overhaul.
In a separate national poll released just a day earlier, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were found to be in a deadlock as Trump aims for a return to the White House. This represents a three-point decline for Harris compared to an earlier poll in October, raising concerns that the Democratic candidate could lose the popular vote for the first time in four elections. Both candidates stand at 48% nationally, with Harris slipping from 49% and Trump rising from 46%.
On a positive note, nearly 80% of voters from both major parties and independents expressed confidence in the accuracy of the election results, despite Trump’s ongoing efforts to question the integrity of the vote. This marks an improvement from two years ago when only about 70% were confident.
However, the poll also indicated widespread distrust in media sources: only 21% viewed mainstream media as beneficial for democracy, while 55% believed it was harmful. Social media received similar ratings, with 21% viewing it positively and 51% negatively.
When it comes to assigning blame for political divisions, Democrats primarily identify Trump as the main threat to democracy, while Republicans point to Harris, Biden, and Democrats more broadly, along with concerns about mail-in voting, electronic voting machines, immigration, and the justice department.
The poll suggests that Democratic fears regarding Trump may explain the shift in Harris’s campaign tone towards a more serious warning about a potential Trump victory leading to “a dark slide into fascism.” Notably, only 21% believe it is acceptable for a president to act outside the law to achieve their objectives, a decline of 9% from two years ago. Additionally, 60% of voters are not confident that Trump would accept the election results if he were to lose.
While some of Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric is taken seriously, under half of respondents believe his threats to use the National Guard against what he terms the “enemy from within.” However, three-quarters do consider his threats to deport undocumented immigrants seriously.
A separate CNN poll published on Monday indicated that 56% of registered voters expressed limited or no trust in the U.S. Supreme Court, particularly regarding its conservative majority, including justices appointed by Trump, to make sound decisions on legal matters related to the 2024 election.