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Americans Split on Likelihood of Poll Workers Tampering with Election

With early voting underway in much of the country and in light of widespread unsubstantiated accusations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, voting safety and integrity are once again at the top of many Americans’ minds.

A recent YouGov survey found respondents split on whether it is likely (39%) or unlikely (42%) for poll workers to attempt to tamper with the November election. One-fifth (20%) are unsure. The survey included participants who have been a poll worker in the past, and the results are relatively similar for those who have and haven’t worked an election.

As one might expect, given former President Donald Trump’s tireless efforts to cast doubt on the 2020 election, there is a significant partisan divide. More than half (55%) of Republicans believe poll workers will likely attempt to tamper with the upcoming election, with roughly a quarter (28%) of Democrats believing the same.

The YouGov study also explored the gaps in perception between the safety of elections in the U.S. and how much trust respondents place in their local elections.

In general, voters trust the integrity of their local poll workers more than those nationwide at a rate of 78% to 60%. Among Republicans, 66% trust poll workers in their own communities, but only 47% trust those nationwide. Around four-fifths of Democrats trust poll workers in their local communities (83%) and nationwide (80%).

Unlike elsewhere in the world, U.S. national elections are administered at the local level. While this can provide challenges, many election experts believe the variety of systems helps safeguard elections from foreign or domestic actors tampering with ballots.

More data from the YouGov poll, including the survey’s methodology, can be found here.

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