A new national poll finds that most Americans lack confidence in U.S. democracy and want changes in the electoral process.
The survey shows that more than half of registered voters believe democracy in the United States is vulnerable.
Many also support election reforms believed to reduce political division.
The poll was conducted by RealClear Opinion Research and surveyed 1,500 registered voters between Jan. 9 and Jan. 11.
Many Voters Say Democracy Is Not Working Well
According to the poll:
- 53% of voters described U.S. democracy as “weak”
- 40% said democracy is “strong”
- The rest were unsure or did not respond
The results point to growing concern about how the political system works.
At the same time, 87% of respondents were worried about political division in the country.
Strong Support for Opening Primary Elections
Many voters noted that changing how elections are run may help ease polarization.
The poll found:
- 71% support open primary elections
- Open primaries allow all voters to participate, regardless of party registration
Supporters claim this gives voters more choice and reduces extreme candidates.
Voters believe open primaries can improve who gets elected:
- 73% voted open primaries can produce better candidates
- 72% voted it can lead to a Congress that better reflects the public
Alternative Voting Systems Gain Public Support
Beyond open primaries, voters support other election models.
According to the survey:
- 60% support “top-two” elections, where all candidates appear on one ballot and the top two advance
- 62% support a ranked-choice “top-four” system, where voters rank candidates and a runoff determines the winner
These systems are designed to encourage broader support and limit winner-take-all outcomes.
Do Election Changes Reduce Polarization?
Not all voters are convinced reforms can solve polarization, but the majority see potential benefits.
The poll found:
- 45% believe open primaries can reduce political division
- 41% believe banning partisan gerrymandering might help. Gerrymandering happens when politicians redraw maps so their party gets an unfair advantage in elections.
A majority of voters voted that U.S. democracy feels weak, and many are looking to election reforms as a possible path forward.
