Despite democracy concerns, researchers find Americans very interested in election

By Ryan Hughes, University Communications and Marketing

A nationally representative survey of U.S. adults finds a public highly attuned to the 2024 election campaign. Researchers at the University of South Florida's Center for Sustainable Democracy, in partnership with researchers at Rutgers University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Kansas, have released new survey findings to better understand attitudes about American democracy, the current election campaign, and democratic engagement with politics.

According to the survey, heightened political interest and general faith in the integrity of American elections is mixed with persistent worries about whether democracy is working in the United States and the extent of social media's influence on democratic institutions and processes.

"On the eve of a nationwide election, Americans are both highly engaged with the election campaign and concerned about the current state of American democracy," says Joshua Scacco, director of Center for Sustainable Democracy and associate professor of political communication. "The winners up and down the ballot in this election will confront a divided American public grappling with important questions about the future of democracy."

Among the survey results:

• More than 60% of Americans view elections as safe, secure and accessible.
• Four-in-five Americans report increased interest in campaigns as the election approaches.
• Approximately 70% of Americans report more expressive forms of political participation, including talking to people about politics.
• A majority of Americans are dissatisfied with democracy in the United States.
• A third of Americans support a "strong leader" form of government who can make decisions without interference from Congress or the courts.
• More than 55% of Americans think that social media have a negative effect on American democracy.
• Around 60% of Americans report partisan rancor about the opposing political party's aims and goals for the United States.

The nationwide survey included a representative sample of 1,450 U.S. adults in Wave 1 of the survey fielded Sept. 13-25, 2024. Wave 2 of the survey re-contacted 1,037 respondents in Wave 1 from Oct. 16-29, 2024. Results are reported with a margin of error +/- 3.0%.