Public Confidence in U.S. Elections Amid Partisan Security Concerns

• •Two-thirds of voters are confident in preventing noncitizen voting.
• •90% of Democratic voters trust eligible citizens will vote, compared to 72% of Republicans.
• •Public confidence is lower for mail-in ballots than for in-person voting.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted from September 28 to October 4, 2026, reveals that a majority of American voters expect the upcoming midterm elections to be well-managed and secure. Approximately two-thirds of voters are confident that ineligible voters, particularly noncitizens, will be prevented from voting, with a significant partisan divide: 90% of Democratic voters express confidence compared to only 45% of Republican voters. Conversely, 90% of Republican voters believe all eligible voters will be able to vote, while only 72% of Democratic voters share this confidence. The survey also indicates that voters have less confidence in the accuracy of mail-in and absentee ballots compared to in-person voting. This research was conducted before the Justice Department's lawsuit against California regarding ballot counting for alleged noncitizens. The findings reflect ongoing concerns about election security and access as the midterms approach.