A new survey indicates that a significant portion of the American electorate is anxious about the possibility of Republican attempts to subvert the upcoming midterm elections. The New York Times/Siena College poll, released Friday, found that 50% of respondents are either “very” or “somewhat worried” that the GOP might employ “illegal means” to overturn the results. This compares to 49% who expressed little to no concern.
The anxiety is heavily concentrated among Democrats, with 86% of likely Democratic voters saying they are worried about potential GOP interference. A majority of independents, 52%, also share this apprehension. Notably, even 10% of Republicans indicated they are concerned their own party might attempt to overturn the election outcome.
The poll also explored fears regarding Democratic efforts to overturn the results, with 31% of respondents expressing worry—a group that is predominantly Republican. Despite these concerns, trust in the accuracy of the midterm results is relatively high across party lines, with 74% of likely voters saying they have confidence in the outcome.
These fears are fueled by persistent, unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, particularly from former President Trump, who has repeatedly alleged irregularities when he or his party faces defeat. Courts and election officials have consistently found no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections.
In a related development, Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters on Thursday that the Justice Department (DOJ) has no intention “to improperly interfere with elections or the state confirmation process or certification process.” However, he did not rule out the possibility of DOJ intervention or blocking states from certifying election results.
On Friday morning, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of the Alaska Senate race if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses. The DOJ argued that the presence of another candidate with the same name on the ballot could confuse voters, making the election unfair. Senator Sullivan is listed on the ballot with his Republican and incumbent status to distinguish himself from the other Dan Sullivan.
The lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of pre-election legal maneuvers, as Trump's midterm bargains and other tactics have drawn scrutiny. Meanwhile, GOP's late cash blitz has not eased anxieties within the party, and bogus polls have sparked bipartisan backlash as the elections approach.
The survey was conducted from October 12-19 among 3,494 likely voters nationwide, with a margin of error of 1.9 percentage points.
