A new survey from the Kettering Foundation and Gallup finds that 67 percent of American adults express concern about political leaders pressuring election officials to change outcomes, with worries rising ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The poll, released Wednesday, asked respondents about their level of concern regarding various threats to election integrity. The findings come as election administrators across the country continue to face heightened scrutiny over voting procedures and vote-counting processes.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive groups and Democratic-aligned organizations have long argued that concerns about election integrity are often overstated and used to justify restrictive voting measures.
The Brennan Center for Justice, a progressive legal think tank, has documented how claims of widespread voter fraud lack empirical support. The organization has noted that American elections remain among the most secure in the world, with multiple safeguards built into the process.
Former election officials in Democratic circles have emphasized their commitment to following established procedures and laws when certifying results, regardless of political pressure. These officials argue that certification processes exist precisely to ensure votes are counted accurately and transparently.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative groups and Republican-aligned organizations maintain that concerns about election security reflect legitimate questions about the integrity of American elections.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has compiled databases of documented election irregularities over the years. The organization argues that even small-scale problems can undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
Election integrity advocates on the right have called for enhanced voter ID requirements, paper audit trails, and post-election audits as standard practices. These measures, supporters say, would increase transparency and build trust among voters across party lines.
What the Numbers Show
The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found 67 percent of American adults concerned about political leaders pressuring election officials to change outcomes, marking a significant level of public anxiety heading into future elections.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents expressed concern about the next highest-ranked issue in the survey, though specific details about that category were not immediately available from initial reporting on the poll.
The survey follows years of contentious debates over election administration following the 2020 presidential contest and subsequent midterm cycles. Trust in American institutions has fluctuated during this period, with Pew Research Center tracking shifts in public confidence in elections.
The Bottom Line
The survey highlights persistent concerns about the integrity of American elections as officials prepare for upcoming contests. Both sides frame their positions around protecting democracy, though they often disagree on what those protections should look like in practice.
Election administrators have emphasized that certification processes involve multiple layers of verification and oversight. Many states have updated their election laws since 2020, though critics argue some changes have been partisan rather than substantive.
Voters can expect these debates to continue shaping political discourse through the 2026 midterm cycle and beyond.