Poll Reveals Deep Divide and Confusion Over ‘Stolen’ Midterm Elections

The 2024 midterm elections are fast approaching, but faith in their legitimacy is alarmingly low among many American voters. According to a recent Politico poll, only 39% of respondents firmly believe the 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Meanwhile, just 40% think this year’s midterms are unlikely to be stolen. The rest are either convinced the elections were compromised or remain uncertain.

What’s more troubling is the wide divergence in how voters define a “stolen” election. The poll presented 11 different election practices and asked respondents whether each was fair, fair but vulnerable to theft, or inherently a way to steal elections. The results revealed stark partisan divides.

Republicans, especially Trump supporters, tend to view measures that expand voting access—like mail-in ballots and same-day registration—as tools for stealing elections. They also see the absence of strict voter ID laws as a vulnerability. This aligns closely with former President Trump’s persistent lies about the 2020 election being “rigged” and his push for anti-voting policies.

On the other hand, Democrats and voters who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 see efforts such as deploying ICE agents to polling places, banning mail-in voting, ballot seizures, voter purges, and strict voter ID requirements as tactics designed to steal elections. These measures are often touted by Republicans as necessary safeguards, but critics argue they suppress turnout and disproportionately affect minority voters.

The poll also highlights racial and economic disparities in election confidence. Nearly a third of Black and Hispanic voters doubt the fairness of the midterms, compared with just over a fifth of white voters. Wealthier voters—those earning over $100,000—also show higher skepticism about election integrity.

Despite Trump’s relentless attempts to rewrite voting rules based on false fraud claims, Republicans are paradoxically more optimistic about the fairness of the upcoming midterms than Democrats. Still, 21% of all respondents said the midterms will likely be stolen, with another 14% saying it is very likely.

This widespread doubt and confusion about what constitutes election theft is no accident. It is the direct result of years of disinformation campaigns led by Trump and his allies aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions. The consequences are dire: voter suppression, reduced turnout, and a weakening of the very foundations of American democracy.

If we want to protect our elections and hold power accountable, we must confront these lies head-on and demand transparency and fairness in the voting process. Otherwise, the threat of stolen elections will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.