Marist Poll Asks If Midterm Elections Will Be Secure [POLL]

When it comes to the security of our elections, a majority of American think the United States is either very prepared or prepared to keep the upcoming midterm elections safe and secure — 53 percent. Nearly four in 10, or 38 percent, doubt that the nation is prepared to thwart security risks to November's elections.

Those numbers are the result of a recent NPR/Marist Poll, which found that six in 10 — 63 percent — of Americans said that protecting the integrity of the nation's elections is a top priority.

More Republicans, independents, white residents and Latino adults think the U.S. is ready to keep the midterm elections secure than Democrats and African Americans.

"Democrats think the nation is not prepared to preserve the security of the upcoming elections whereas Republicans do," said Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

"Both Democrats and Republicans think election security should be a top priority, but Democrats are more likely to think so," he said.

Sixty-one percent of Americans, including 79 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of independents and only 44 percent of Democrats, think domestic voter fraud or suppression is a bigger danger to safe and secure U.S. elections than interference by foreign countries.

Thirty-four percent of Americans hold the opposite view.

If there is voter fraud, more registered voters — 45 percent — think it will be more of a help to Republicans than Democrats — 35 percent.

That is in contrast to a FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll of likely voters in 2008 that found 47 percent thought fraud would help the Dems and 35 percent said it would help the GOP.

When the NPR/Marist Poll asked the Russia question, 67 percent of Americans believe it is either very likely or likely Russia will again use social media to spread false information about candidates running for office.

The poll found that Americans are less convinced of the possibility of other forms, domestic or international, of electoral interference.

Voter fraud is the only other concern to reach a majority — 53 percent.

However, 46 percent of respondents said it is very likely or likely that many votes will not be counted, and 45 percent think many people will be turned away from voting due to ineligibility.

This NPR/Marist Poll surveyed 949 adults, 18 or older, and was conducted between Sept. 5 through Sept. 9. The margin of error is ±3.6 percent.

The complete NPR/Marist Poll can be seen here.

Now let's see what you think. Take our unscientific poll — as opposed to the NPR/Marist Poll — and tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments.

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