Three in 10 voters — including 45 percent of Republicans — would not accept the election results if their candidate lost, according to a new NBC News/Survey Monkey poll released Friday.
The results:
- Definitely/probably accept results: 68 percent;
- Unlikely/definitely not accept results: 31 percent.
Among Republicans:
- Definitely/probably accept results: 53 percent;
- Unlikely/definitely not accept results: 45 percent.
By comparison, 82 percent of Democrats said they would accept the results.
A Politico poll, also released Friday, showed that 70 percent of voters want the loser to accept the election result.
Trump dropped a bombshell during the final debate Wednesday night when he refused to pledge to accept the election results, saying instead he would keep everybody in suspense.
Then Thursday at a rally in Ohio, Trump said he would accept the election results — if he wins.
The NBC News/SurveyMonkey Third Debate Reaction Poll was conducted Oct. 20 among a national sample of 6,538 adults who are likely to vote. Results have an error estimate of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.