What Happened?
A new Gallup survey conducted with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation found that many Americans are approaching the 2026 midterm elections with concerns about both election administration and the health of the nation’s democratic institutions. The survey, which included more than 23,000 U.S. adults, found that 67% are concerned about political leaders pressuring election officials to change election outcomes. Another 57% worry ballots may not be properly handled, counted, or secured, while 52% are concerned about voter intimidation near polling places.
The findings also revealed notable partisan differences, with Democrats being more likely to express concern about political pressure on election officials and voter intimidation. Republicans were more concerned about ballots being mishandled. Regardless, Gallup found that many concerns crossed party lines, with nearly three-quarters of Americans reporting concern about multiple aspects of the election process.
Beyond the election itself, respondents expressed widespread concern about the country’s political system. Around 80% worried about political leaders knowingly taking illegal actions, 78% cited anonymous political donations, and 77% were concerned about gerrymandering. Gallup also found that people who spend more time on social media consistently reported higher levels of concern across many of the issues examined.
Why It Matters
Public confidence is imperative for a functioning election system, regardless of which party wins. When large numbers of Americans question how elections are administered or believe political leaders may improperly influence the process, skepticism can persist long after votes are counted…
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Such an environment makes governing more difficult, deepens political divisions, and likely opens the door for future legal challenges. Americans expressed high levels of worry about issues outside of Election Day itself, such as anonymous political spending, gerrymandering, and elected officials knowingly breaking the law, showing deep-rooted doubts regarding the fairness and accountability of government.
The findings also suggest that heavy social media users consistently report greater concern, highlighting the growing role online platforms play in shaping political perceptions. As campaigns start to heat up in preparation for November, public trust may have a bigger-than-expected influence on both who participates and how willing they are to accept the results afterward.
How It Affects You
The survey suggests that elections are becoming tests of public confidence as much as contests between candidates. Even after ballots are counted, courts and election officials may spend months responding to challenges, recount requests, public records demands, or legal disputes if large numbers of voters remain skeptical of the process.
It’s an interesting climate for voters to be in as well, as trust in election outcomes influences how willing people are to accept new laws, respect elected officials, and their overall belief in the political system. If confidence continues to erode, governing becomes more difficult because nearly every major decision risks being viewed through the lens of election legitimacy rather than the policy itself.
Such uncertainty only deepens political polarization and makes compromise between elected leaders increasingly difficult, regardless of which party controls Congress after the midterms.
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