Defending Election Defenders: New Insights into Public Attitudes About Election Workers and Voter Confidence

With the 2024 election already underway, the need to protect election officials and workers has never been more urgent. These dedicated individuals are facing an unprecedented wave of threats, harassment, and intimidation, driven by the spread of false information and baseless claims about election fraud. As a result, we are seeing the very foundation of our means for choosing political leaders — the people who ensure free and fair elections — come under attack.

Election workers, 80% of whom are women, perform the vital task of safeguarding our nation’s future by ensuring that every vote is counted fairly and accurately. Yet, despite their commitment to democracy, they are often subjected to threats of violence, harassment, and even doxxing, where personal information is exposed to incite intimidation​. These dangerous tactics are not isolated incidents but are part of a growing trend aimed at undermining confidence in our elections. As a result, one in four Americans say they will not trust the outcome of the election this year, no matter who wins, according to new findings from a national survey conducted by Issue One with Worthy Strategy Group. And among those who say they will not trust the outcome of this year’s election, most say they will suspect election fraud if their candidate loses.

The roots of this crisis lie in the spread of false information. Since the 2020 election, a deliberate campaign to delegitimize the electoral process has targeted election officials. According to a Brennan Center survey, 7 in 10 election officials say threats have increased since 2020. False narratives about election fraud — such as the baseless claim that noncitizens are voting in large numbers — are stoking public fear and creating a toxic environment for those working to uphold the integrity of our elections. The mental and emotional toll of these threats is immense, with election officials being forced to take extraordinary measures, such as installing security cameras, panic buttons, police snipers, drone patrols, and even training for active-shooter situations​.

Findings from Issue One’s new survey also show that public confidence in various voting methods has been eroded by the spread of false narratives. We broke down specific aspects of the election process to gauge public perceptions and confidence — from how elections are administered on Election Day to the counting of ballots and the range of safeguards in place to ensure accuracy. Voters express higher levels of confidence in in-person Election Day voting than in mail-in voting and voter ID verification procedures. Mail-in voting remains a point of contention, especially among Republican voters, as suspicions about its integrity persist​. The results suggest that greater public education and engagement in how elections actually work are urgently needed to restore confidence across the board.

Women, who make up the vast majority of the election workforce, are disproportionately affected. They are our mothers, grandmothers, and sisters who have chosen public service out of a deep sense of civic duty. Yet, they are bearing the brunt of this hostility. In Georgia, for instance, fentanyl-laced letters have been sent to election offices, threatening both officials and their families​. This kind of targeted harassment is designed not just to frighten individuals but to undermine the entire electoral system.

It is clear that protecting election officials is about more than just their personal safety — it is about defending our system of self-governance itself. Without these quiet patriots working behind the scenes, our elections cannot function. Their tireless effort combined with safeguards built into the system — including voter verification processes, auditing and processes for legal challenges — ensure that we can have confidence in the results of our elections, even in the face of rising mistrust fueled by falsehoods. And that’s why Issue One has launched a campaign in partnership with States United to honor and protect elections officials and workers, especially during the heightened post-election period.

As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial that we take action to protect those who protect our votes. We must demand stronger legal protections, call out false information when we see it and direct people to credible sources of information, especially local election officials. Finally, let’s show our gratitude to the election workers in our communities and ensure that they are safe. They are the backbone of our democracy, and they deserve our full support.

Key Findings With Interactives

With election officials facing increased threats, harassment and intimidation as a result of the spread of false information, Issue One with Worthy Strategy Group and Change Research conducted a national survey to gain new insights into the current attitudes of likely voters toward election workers and perceptions about integrity of elections. This research also informs Issue One’s campaign to honor and protect elections officials and workers — 80% of whom are women — especially during the heightened post-election period.

The findings highlight significant partisan divisions on perceptions of election fraud, trust in election outcomes, and confidence in various voting methods and underscore the need for bipartisan efforts to restore trust in elections and prevent further erosion of democratic processes. Among notable findings, 75% of likely voters say they will trust the outcome of this year’s election. When we break it down by partisanship, the distrust is driven largely by respondents who identify as Republicans with only 41% saying they will trust the outcome, no matter who wins, compared to 57% of independents and 89% of Democrats.  As we approach the 2024 election, it’s essential to address the concerns of all voters, particularly those who are skeptical of the process. Our goal is to ensure every voter feels their voice will be counted fairly and that election results accurately reflect the voice of voters.

Perception of Election Workers Remains Positive

A significant majority of voters view election officials favorably. Majorities of Americans view election officials as civic-minded (80%), patriotic (81%), professional (78%), reliable (76%), honest (75%), trustworthy (74%), as caring for people like them (69%) and as leaders (68%).

Confidence Varies by Stages of the Process and Voting Method

We broke down specific aspects of the election process to gauge public perceptions and confidence in various elements – from how elections are administered by workers on Election Day, to how ballots are counted, as well as a range of safeguards in place that ensure every vote is counted and that results are accurate. Voters express higher levels of confidence in in-person Election Day voting procedures than in mail-in voting and voter ID/eligibility verification. Mail-in voting, in particular, remains a point of contention, as suspicions surrounding this method persist among voters, especially Republicans. The results point to areas where greater public education and engagement are needed.

When asked what measures would increase their confidence in election outcomes, voters pointed to voter ID requirements (30%) and a return to “old-fashioned” voting methods, such as eliminating mail-in voting and using paper ballots (15%). Equal oversight by both parties was another significant theme, particularly among Republicans, who expressed concerns about the impartiality of election officials.

Local Trust vs. National Trust

Voters have more confidence that their votes will be counted as intended in their city or town (83%), with confidence significantly declining when asked about national counts (59%), particularly in swing states and large cities (54%). This reflects growing anxieties about election administration in pivotal regions that are crucial to determining national outcomes.

The survey serves as a reminder of the importance of educating about how elections work to build confidence in the electoral system, while also pushing for bipartisan reforms. While there are clear divisions among voters, addressing the spread of false election information, ensuring transparent processes, and supporting election officials can help bridge partisan divides.

Methodology: The survey of 1,600 likely voters, conducted from September 17-19, 2024 and a modeled margin of error of +/- 2.7%, offers a snapshot of the national mood as the 2024 election cycle approaches. The poll was conducted using Change Research’s Dynamic Online Sampling method, which employs targeted online ads to recruit respondents across various demographics. Post-stratification was done based on gender, age, race, education, region, and 2020 vote history to ensure a representative sample.​​