In recent years, a growing number of elected officials have questioned or outright denied the results of elections, sought to undermine freedom of speech, and attempted to bend electoral rules to benefit themselves.
Only a sliver of Americans say they support these kinds of antidemocratic actions. For example, just 8% of Americans support making it harder for their political opponents to vote.
kAm$@ 9@H 5@ A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ 6DA@FD6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 G:6HD 4@?E:?F6 E@ H:? 6=64E:@?D :7 E96D6 A@=:4:6D 2C6 D@ F?A@AF=2Cnk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClFaq8`G<ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?QmpD D49@=2CDk^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClK}:}at|ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qm277:=:2E65k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6Cl_g|4_'<ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?QmH:E9 E96k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C@@?6J:?DE:EFE6]?5]65F^Qm#@@?6J s6>@4C24J x?DE:EFE6k^2m 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }@EC6 s2>6[ H6 2?2=JK65 DFCG6JD @7 @G6C cg[___ p>6C:42?D 4@?5F4E65 3J *@Fv@G[ }~#r 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r9:428@ 2?5 q@G:EK 36EH66? $6AE6>36C a_aa 2?5 yF=J a_ad E@ ECJ E@ 86E 2? 2?DH6C]k^Am
kAmp <6J 7:?5:?8 6>6C865i p D:8?:7:42?E DH2E9 @7 p>6C:42?D H6C6 24EF2==J :?5:776C6?E E@H2C5 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D 2? :>A@CE2?E 5:DE:?4E:@?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_fb^A?2D]ab`b_`b`a`Qm!C:@C C6D62C49k^2m E6?565 E@ 2DDF>6 E92E :7 2 A6CD@? 5@6D?’E DFAA@CE 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D[ E96? E96J >FDE @AA@D6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D] x? @E96C H@C5D[ :7 @?=J gT @7 E96 AF3=:4 DFAA@CED >2<:?8 :E 92C56C 7@C A@=:E:42= @AA@?6?ED E@ G@E6[ E96? C@F89=J haT @7 p>6C:42?D >FDE @AA@D6 >2<:?8 :E 92C56C 7@C @AA@?6?ED E@ G@E6]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ @FC C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E E96C6 :D 24EF2==J 2 3:8 49F?< @7 p>6C:42?D – 2E E:>6D 2 AC@A@CE:@? 2D =2C86 2D daT @7 G@E6CD – H9@ ?6:E96C DFAA@CE ?@C @AA@D6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D] (9:=6 @?=J 2 D>2== ?F>36C @7 p>6C:42?D @FEC:89E DFAA@CE G:@=2E:?8 4@C6 56>@4C2E:4 ?@C>D[ >2?J p>6C:42?D 6IAC6DD ?@ @A:?:@? 23@FE A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ F?56C>:?6 56>@4C24J]k^Am
kAm(6 42== E9:D 2EE:EF56 E@H2C5 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D “56>@4C2E:4 ?6FEC2=:EJ[” 2?5 H6 36=:6G6 :E’D 2? @G6C=@@<65 2?5 F?56CDEF5:65 E9C62E E@ 56>@4C24J]k^Am
k9amp>3:G2=6?46 :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D @AA@D:E:@?k^9am
kAm(6 D66 56>@4C2E:4 ?6FEC2=:EJ 2D <6J E@ 6IA=2:?:?8 E96 DF446DD @7 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:4:2?D :? p>6C:42]k^Am
kAm%@ :==FDEC2E6i ~?=J 23@FE ` :? `_ p>6C:42?D 28C66 E92E A@=:E:4:2?D D9@F=5 36 =@J2= E@ E96:C A@=:E:42= A2CEJ @G6C E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?] qFE A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ 7=@FE 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= ?@C>D 92G6 H@? C246D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2E6DF?:E65]@C8^C6D@FC46D^DE2E6D\@7\56?:2=^Qm2E 2== =6G6=D @7 E96 8@G6C?>6?Ek^2m]k^Am
kAms@K6?D @7 #6AF3=:42?D H@? a_ae AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?D 56DA:E6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ C6;64E E96 @FE4@>6 @7 E96 a_a_ AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?] %96 8C@FA :?4=F56D %6I2D pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= z6? !2IE@?[ H9@ 2D<65 E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4@EFD3=@8]4@>^a_a_^`a^E6I2D\EC:6D\92:=\>2CJ\E@\3=@4<\6=64E:@?\@FE4@>6^QmE@ :?G2=:52E6 E96 46CE:7:65 6=64E:@? C6DF=EDk^2m :? 7@FC DE2E6D H@? 3J y@6 q:56?] x? |2J a_ae[ !2IE@? 56762E65 :?4F>36?E v~! $6?2E@C y@9? r@C?J? E@ 364@>6 E96 A2CEJ’D ?@>:?66]k^Am
kAm(6 D9@H E92E E9:D 2AA2C6?E 4@?EC25:4E:@? 92D 2 DEC2:89E7@CH2C5 6IA=2?2E:@?]k^Am
kAmpC@F?5 adT @7 E96 AF3=:4 6IAC6DD6D ?6FEC2=:EJ H96? 2D<65 H96E96C A@=:E:4:2?D D9@F=5 36 >@C6 =@J2= E@ E96:C A2CEJ @C E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?] (96? E9@D6 H9@ AC:@C:E:K6 E96:C A2CEJ @G6C E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 ?6FEC2= E@H2C5 E96 :562 2C6 4@?D:56C65 E@86E96C[ >@C6 E92? @?6\E9:C5 @7 p>6C:42?D 2C6 @A6? E@ G@E:?8 7@C 2 A@=:E:4:2? H9@ AC:@C:E:K6D A2CE:D2?[ C2E96C E92? 4@?DE:EFE:@?2=[ =@J2=EJ]k^Am
kAm~?6\E9:C5 @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? :D >@C6 E92? 6?@F89 E@ H:? 2 A2CE:D2? AC:>2CJ] p?5 8:G6? E96 566A=J A@=2C:K65 A@=:E:42= 4=:>2E6 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_ad^_a^ab^FD^A@=:E:4D^FD\6=64E:@?D\86CCJ>2?56C:?8]9E>=Qm564=:?:?8 6=64E@C2= 4@>A6E:E:@?k^2m :? E96 &]$] – :?4=F5:?8 :?4C62D6D :? 86CCJ>2?56C65 =68:D=2E:G6 5:DEC:4ED – H:??:?8 2 A2CE:D2? AC:>2CJ :D @7E6? E2?E2>@F?E E@ 6=64E@C2= G:4E@CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 AC6G2=6?46 @7 56>@4C2E:4 ?6FEC2=:EJ :D EC@F3=:?8 3642FD6 :? DFCG6J 6IA6C:>6?ED H:E9 9JA@E96E:42= 42?5:52E6D[ >@DE p>6C:42?D H9@ 6IAC6DD ?6FEC2=:EJ E@H2C5 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:4:6D G@E6 E96 D2>6 H2J 2D E96 D>2== ?F>36C @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ @FEC:89E DFAA@CE 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:4:6D]k^Am
kAm(6 H6C6 2=D@ 23=6 E@ D9@H E92E H96? 42?5:52E6D 7@C 6=64E65 @77:46 E2<6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 DE2?46D[ @?=J p>6C:42?D H9@ 6IA=:4:E=J @AA@D6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D AF?:D9 E9@D6 42?5:52E6D 2E E96 32==@E 3@I] p>6C:42?D H9@ 2C6 ?6FEC2= E@H2C5 @C DFAA@CE:G6 @7 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D 5@ ?@E]k^Am
kAm(96? H6 244@F?E65 7@C ?6FEC2=:EJ 24C@DD >F=E:A=6 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D[ 7C@> A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46 E@ G@E6C DFAAC6DD:@?[ E96 A:4EFC6 3642>6 6G6? >@C6 5:C6] }62C=J EH@\E9:C5D @7 p>6C:42?D 6IAC6DD ?6FEC2=:EJ @C DFAA@CE 7@C D@>6 7@C> @7 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46]k^Am
kAmx? @E96C H@C5D[ 2 4=62C >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 AF3=:4 :D H:==:?8 E@ E@=6C2E6 2 A@=:E:4:2? H9@ F?56C>:?6D 4@C6 2DA64ED @7 p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J]k^Am
k9am}6FEC2=:EJ :D ?@E 2 A2DD:G6 DE2?46k^9am
kAm&D:?8 H92E’D 42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]>:E]65F^a_`_^6IA=2:?65\C68\2?2=JD:D\_b`eQmC68C6DD:@? 2?2=JD:Dk^2m[ H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 5:8 566A6C :?E@ E96 3692G:@CD 2?5 2EE:EF56D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 56>@4C2E:4 ?6FEC2=:EJ] (6 7@F?5 E92E 56>@4C2E:4 ?6FEC2=:EJ 2AA62CD E@ 36 E:65 E@ 2 G2C:6EJ @7 724E@CD]k^Am
kAm$@>6 p>6C:42?D 2AA62C H:==:?8 E@ E@=6C2E6 A@=:E:4:2?D F?56C>:?:?8 56>@4C24J :7 :E >62?D E9@D6 A@=:E:4:2?D 6?24E A@=:4:6D E96J DFAA@CE] ~E96CD D66> 2>3:G2=6?E 23@FE 56>@4C24J[ :?5:776C6?E E@ E96 :DDF6 @C F?DFC6 H92E BF2=:7:6D 2D 2? 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:4J] p?5 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 AC:@C C6D62C49[ D@>6 A6@A=6 >2J 24EF2==J DFAA@CE 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:4:6D 3FE 6IAC6DD ?6FEC2=:EJ 3642FD6 @7 D@4:2= AC6DDFC6]k^Am
kAm#682C5=6DD @7 H9J p>6C:42?D 6IAC6DD ?6FEC2=:EJ[ E9@D6 H9@ 5@ D@ 2C6 ;FDE 2D =:<6=J E@ G@E6 7@C 2FE9@C:E2C:2? A@=:E:4:2?D 2D E96 C6=2E:G6=J D>2== ?F>36C @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ 6IA=:4:E=J DFAA@CE F?56>@4C2E:4 AC24E:46D :? D@>6 7@C>]k^Am
kAm~FC C6D62C49 :?5:42E6D E92E 7C:?86 6IEC6>:DED 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^>6>36CD\@7\4@?8C6DD\F?56C>:?6\E96\4@F?ECJ\2?5\E96:C\@H?\=68:E:>24J\H:E9\2?E:56>@4C2E:4\C96E@C:4\abadbeQmE96 76H A@=:E:4:2?D H9@ 24E:G6=J AC@>@E6 2FE9@C:E2C:2? :562Dk^2m 2C6 ?@E D@=6=J E@ 3=2>6 7@C p>6C:42’D 56>@4C2E:4 EC@F3=6D]k^Am
kAm%96 >:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D H9@ D:>A=J C6>2:? ?6FEC2= H96? 56>@4C24J :D E9C62E6?65 2C6 2 8C62E6C E9C62E E@ E96 4@F?ECJ’D DJDE6> @7 8@G6C?>6?E] %96D6 56>@4C2E:42==J ?6FEC2= G@E6CD 2C6[ :? @FC G:6H[ 4@>A=:4:E :? E96 4@?E:?F65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=6G:ED<J]D49@=2CD]92CG2C5]65F^AF3=:42E:@?D^9@H\56>@4C24:6D\5:6Qm6C@D:@? @7 56>@4C2E:4 ?@C>D :? E96 &]$k^2m[ 6G6? :7 E96J 5@ ?@E @A6?=J 6IAC6DD DFAA@CE 7@C 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A@=:4:6D]k^Am
kAmx?5665[ @FC C6D62C49 :?5:42E6D E92E ?6FEC2=:EJ :D ?@E 2 A2DD:G6 DE2?46] !C6G6?E:?8 7FCE96C 56>@4C2E:4 6C@D:@? C6BF:C6D G@E6CD E@ C6;64E 42?5:52E6D H9@ F?56C>:?6 32D:4 56>@4C2E:4 AC:?4:A=6D[ 6G6? – 2?5 6DA64:2==J – :7 E96J 2C6 42?5:52E6D 7C@> @?6’D @H? A2CEJ] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3@@<D]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^23@FE^%96@5@C60#@@D6G6=E0D0{:EE=60q@@<0@70$6=6]9E>=n:5l\;ydKHtprppyU2>AjD@FC46l<A03@@<056D4C:AE:@?QmpD 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E %96@5@C6 #@@D6G6=E H2C?65k^2m[ “… E@ 36 ?6FEC2= 36EH66? C:89E 2?5 HC@?8 :D E@ D6CG6 HC@?8]”k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^>2EE96H\92==\`bgdgdfnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm|2EE96H w2==k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\?@EC6\52>6\hh_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 }@EC6 s2>6k^2mk^6>mj k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^3C:EE2?J\D@=@>@?\aefdebfnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQmqC:EE2?J $@=@>@?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\?@EC6\52>6\hh_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 }@EC6 s2>6k^2mk^6>m[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^EJ=6C\=6:89\aefdecenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm%J=6C {6:89k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\?@EC6\52>6\hh_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 }@EC6 s2>6k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^>6>36CD\@7\4@?8C6DD\F?56C>:?6\E96\4@F?ECJ\2?5\E96:C\@H?\=68:E:>24J\H:E9\2?E:56>@4C2E:4\C96E@C:4\abadbenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm|6>36CD @7 r@?8C6DD F?56C>:?6 E96 4@F?ECJ – 2?5 E96:C @H? =68:E:>24J – H:E9 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 C96E@C:4k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2?\2?E:56>@4C2E:4\A9:=@D@A9J\42==65\?6@C624E:@?\:D\4C66A:?8\:?E@\8@A\A@=:E:4D\`gadg`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQmp? 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 A9:=@D@A9J 42==65 ‘?6@C624E:@?’ :D 4C66A:?8 :?E@ v~! A@=:E:4Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^=62C?:?8\J@FC\A@=:E:42=\@AA@?6?ED\5@?E\24EF2==J\92E6\J@F\42?\C65F46\E@I:4\A@=2C:K2E:@?\2?5\2?E:56>@4C2E:4\2EE:EF56D\acbc`hnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agabdgQm{62C?:?8 J@FC A@=:E:42= @AA@?6?ED 5@?’E 24EF2==J 92E6 J@F 42? C65F46 E@I:4 A@=2C:K2E:@? 2?5 2?E:56>@4C2E:4 2EE:EF56Dk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m%96 2FE9@CD 5@ ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92G6 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^agabdg^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
