By Ashleigh Fields - 09/17/24

A new report shows that 46 percent of Republicans would not accept the election results as legitimate if the Democratic nominee wins, and 14 percent of all Republican respondents said they would take action to overturn the outcome if the opposing party won.

On the Democratic side, 27 percent said they would not accept the 2024 results as legitimate if the opposing party won, and 11 percent of Democrats said they would take action to overturn results.

The World Justice Project surveyed 1,046 Americans across the country to predetermine their response to the 2024 presidential election. It conducted the poll in June, before President Biden withdrew from the election and endorsed Vice President Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.

The findings show that after the 2020 election, the general population still has a large distrust for the electoral process and will ultimately question the results presented in November. One-third of Republicans and two-thirds of Democrats believe election officials are trustworthy. 

“Distrust in the electoral process should be a wake-up call going into the November election,” Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the World Justice Project, said. “It’s imperative that our public officials, media, community leaders, and informed citizens of all stripes work harder than ever to build trust in U.S. election integrity and commitment to the rule of law.”  

While citizens have raised concerns, over 96 percent of Republicans and Democrats agree that the rule of law is central to the country’s future. 

The World Justice Project is independent and nonpartisan with a goal to advance the rule of law around the world.