Poll Finds Rising Confidence in Midterm Vote Counts
A Grinnell College Poll shows 64% of U.S. respondents expect votes to be counted correctly in the midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Are you confident your vote will be counted correctly in this year's midterms?
The Grinnell College Poll, administered by YouGov in mid-October 2026 to 1,500 U.S. residents over 18, found 64% are confident votes will be counted correctly in the midterms. That figure is up 4 percentage points from 58% in March 2024.
Why it matters
Confidence in vote counting is a measure of public trust in the electoral process ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterms. The shift shows how partisan views of election integrity have moved across the two-year cycle.
The poll surveyed 1,500 U.S. residents over 18 and found Democrats and Democratic-leaning respondents near three-quarters confident in the vote, while Republican confidence rose from 41% to 66%. The survey does not show how these views will translate into turnout or election outcomes.
The players
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, which administers the poll.
YouGov
YouGov is an international research data and analytics group that conducted the web survey for the poll.
The details
Respondents said it is very important that free and fair elections are conducted without fraud, with 91% of Democrats, 89% of Republicans and 82% of independents agreeing. The poll was delivered through a web survey and has run every two years since 2018.
Timeline
March 2024: Previous Grinnell poll placed vote-count confidence at 58%.
Mid-October 2026: YouGov administered the current Grinnell College Poll.
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections are held.
Political Context
The Grinnell College Poll has been fielded every two years since 2018, allowing the 2026 reading of 64% confidence to be compared against the March 2024 figure of 58%. Democratic respondents, 84% of whom said American democracy is in crisis, present a counterpoint to the broader rise in confidence.
Voters who expect their ballots to be counted correctly may be more inclined to participate in the midterms. The poll reflects attitudes rather than changes to voting rules, so registration and voting procedures remain unchanged.
The takeaway
Confidence in vote counting rose across parties between 2024 and 2026, though partisan gaps remain. Readers can track how these attitudes shape turnout as the November 3 midterms approach.
What happens next
The midterm elections will be held on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For broader coverage of the vote and the campaigns behind it, see Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowacapitaldispatch.
Live Poll
Are you confident your vote will be counted correctly in this year's midterms?
