OpenCampaign

Democracy

Democracy and election integrity

Concerns about the state of American democracy are running high in 2026. The Yale Climate Communication poll found 44% of Americans very worried about the state of democracy, and Freedom House downgraded the U.S. score due to political violence, chilling effects on speech, and efforts to punish noncitizen expression. Gallup also found 5% of Americans naming elections and democracy as the top national problem, while Trump has raised fresh claims about election fairness.

How concerned should the government be about protecting U.S. democratic institutions?

How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue

No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights.

32% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).

  1. Liberal20%
  2. Lean liberal28%
  3. Moderate26%
  4. Lean conservative14%
  5. Conservative12%

Where do you stand?

How concerned should the government be about protecting U.S. democratic institutions?

How important is this to you?

Sources

Freedom House — https://freedomhouse.org/country/united-states/freedom-world/2026
The score declined from 4 to 3 due to a multiyear rise in threats and reprisals for political expression, and the new administration's efforts to punish nonviolent speech by noncitizens.
Encyclopedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-key-issues-in-the-2026-midterms
Trump has raised concerns about the fairness and security of elections, despite evidence that voter fraud is extremely rare.
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication — https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/top-public-worries-in-the-u-s
A second tier of concerns includes the state of democracy in the U.S. and disruption of federal government services (both 44%).
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Enact sweeping democratic reforms: expand voting rights, overturn Citizens United, and restore democratic norms.
  2. Strengthen independent oversight, protect press freedom, and pass legislation to limit political violence.
  3. Improve election transparency through bipartisan commissions while avoiding partisan overreach on either side.
  4. Focus on enforcing existing election laws and limiting government expansion rather than adding new regulations.
  5. Support broad executive authority and stricter voter ID laws; current institutions are functioning as intended.