Voters Divided Over Top Concerns About 2026 Elections

A national survey of 16,629 respondents, conducted by the Shorenstein Center and Civic Health and Institutions Project between August 23-September 14, 2026, found that misinformation, false claims of voter fraud, and concerns about ineligible voting or voter fraud are among the top concerns surrounding the 2026 midterm elections.

The survey finds a 30-point partisan gap over the most significant election concern:

• 36% of Republicans identified ineligible voters or voter fraud as their single biggest concern, compared with 6% of Democrats.
• 26% of Democrats named false claims of election fraud as their top concern, compared with 9% of Republicans.
• Concern about misinformation was more evenly distributed, cited by 17% of Republicans, 16% of Democrats, and 21% of independents.

The report also finds that election concerns vary by age. Adults ages 18 to 24 were more likely to identify misinformation as a top concern, with 23% selecting it, compared with 10% of adults 65 and older. Younger adults were also more likely to cite immigration enforcement at polling places. Older adults were more likely to identify ineligible voting or fraud and false claims of fraud as their top concerns.

Ballot access and election-administration problems, as well as foreign interference, were less commonly identified as voters’ single biggest concern, cited by 4% and 5% of respondents, respectively.

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