Americans, particularly Republicans, are losing their confidence in the U.S. election process,
according to results of a Gallup poll.
The poll was conducted by telephone March 16-17, 2016, with a random sample of 1,012 adults 18 and up, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
According to the survey:
- 30 percent of all Americans said they believed the U.S. election process was working properly.
- 30 percent of Republicans and those leaning toward voting Republican believed the process was working properly.
- 32 percent of Democrats and those leaning toward voting that way believed the process was working.
Those number mark a 16-point decline in confidence among Republicans since January, when the poll showed this breakdown:
- 37 percent of all Americans believed the election process was working.
- 46 percent of Republicans believed that.
- 32 percent of Democrats believed the process was working properly.
Voters in the poll also appear less impressed by the remaining presidential candidates.
- 68 percent of Americans in the poll believed there was a candidate that would make a good president.
- 78 percent of Republicans believed there was a candidate that would make a good president.
- 69 percent of Democrats believed that was the case.
Voters, especially Republicans, have warmed up to the remaining candidates since January, but Democrats have remained steady in their views. Out of all voters, 66 percent in January believed there was a strong candidate. Only 71 percent of Republicans and those leaning toward voting Republican believed that. 69 percent of Democrats favored their remaining candidates, the same percentage as in March.
Only one percentage point separated all those polled and those polled who were registered voters. 29 percent of registered voters believed the election process is working, compared to 30 percent of all those polled.
Among registered voters, those who believe there is any candidate who would make a good president, the number rises slightly, to 71 percent from 68 percent.
U.S. voters' overall confidence level of 30 percent is a calamitous decline from 2008 when Barack Obama ran against John McCain. Looking at Gallup polling from that election year, confidence in the process was at 67 percent.
Confidence was at 57 percent in 2000 when Al Gore and George W. Bush were leading the nominations.
The drop in confidence could be attributed to Donald Trump's presence in the race.
In a Gallup poll back in January, 60 percent of all Americans were not fans of Trump's.
However, among Republicans he is popular, at 55 percent favorable,
according to Gallup Daily Tracking.
For the overall confidence number, Gallup looked back to 1992 elections and found that Trump is the most unpopular candidate overall since then. The only candidate who reached Trump's 60 percent is Ross Perot, in both 1992 and 1996.
Only George H.W. Bush came close among Republicans, with 57 percent in 1992. Bill Clinton hit 59 percent unfavorable in March 2001.