Just weeks after the fall’s midterm elections, voters feel strongly that the country’s democracy is being threatened. While a lack of respect and civility in politics continues to remain an issue for voters, there’s not a lot of agreement on why Americans feel this way.
According to the latest Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) Battleground Civility Poll, an overwhelming 75% of Americans believe that “democracy is under attack,” as opposed to only 24% who disagree. This belief cuts across party lines with 80% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans and 64% of Independents sharing this concern.
When given a list of reasons why some people say democracy is under attack, voters agree widely on the threat of violence to democracy: 77% of voters agree that “the increasing amount of violent behavior in our society” is an extremely or very serious threat to democracy (including 75% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats). Furthermore, 63% of voters believe that “the decreasing amount of respect and civility in our political system” is an extremely or very serious threat to democracy (including 61% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats). CONTINUED
Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service
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