New Civil Rights Monitor Poll Finds 73 Percent of Voters Worried About Political Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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National poll also finds 81 percent think democracy is under threat, 93 percent extremely motivated to vote

WASHINGTON — A new poll commissioned by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights found voters across the country are very worried about political violence (73 percent) and threats to democracy (81 percent), and they are highly motivated to vote (93 percent). The poll was fielded by renowned pollster brilliant corners and measures voters’ feelings about key civil rights issues. This is the third year The Leadership Conference has conducted the Civil Rights Monitor Poll.

The poll comes at a time when The Leadership Conference and its more than 240 member organizations have been deeply engaged in a number of key issues, including voter education and participation, combatting mis- and disinformation, advancing voting rights legislation, advocating for fair courts and ethics reform, and fighting hate and bias at a time when hate crimes continue to rise. That work informed the questions on the poll and reiterates the importance of passing legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Native American Voting Rights Act, and Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act — and for social media companies to take content moderation seriously.

Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference, said: “Voters know what’s at stake in this election. The Leadership Conference has tracked civil rights polling data, and it’s clear that in this presidential year voters want to vote even while they worry about political violence and know democracy is on the ballot. This most recent poll shows that voters want to vote more than ever despite, or perhaps because, our democracy is threatened with the dark cloud of election denial and violence. In 2024, voters must know that they will decide the outcome of the election — not a political party, extremist groups, or purveyors of disinformation. The civil rights community is organized and actively working on voter education, get-out–the-vote efforts, election protection, and combating disinformation, and we are also elevating Project 2025 as a blueprint to undermine the very values we see supported in three years of polling. We will continue to combat racism, xenophobia, and efforts to divide us along race and immigration lines. Democracy requires passionate persistence, and our Civil Rights Monitor Poll reassures us that the majority of Americans agree.”

The State of Civil Rights in America: Key Findings

Despite a highly charged political environment and deep concerns about the strength of democracy, Americans continue to agree with the values of civil rights. 

• Democracy Under Threat: 81 percent of voters believe that democracy is under threat, and 73 percent are worried about political violence after the elections in November.
• Worries about Political Violence: Worryingly, more than seven in 10 respondents are either somewhat or very worried about political violence erupting after the election; liberals are much more worried (92 percent) about political violence than moderates and conservatives (68 percent and 63 percent, respectively). 
• Ideological Divide on Threats to Freedom: When asked which of the threats to their freedoms and rights they fear most, the responses showed a stark distinction in ideological divide. Liberals believe the Supreme Court (49 percent) and Project 2025 (43 percent) are the biggest threats, while conservatives believe open borders and immigration (57 percent) as well as ‘woke culture’ (41 percent) are the biggest threats.
• Extremely High Voter Motivation: An astounding 93 percent of voters are extremely motivated to vote this November, up seven points from last year (86 percent).
• Diversity: 79 percent continue to say that America’s diversity makes us stronger. 
• Key Issues: When asked which issues are most important to them in this year’s election, 22 percent said protecting our democracy and freedoms (down from 25 percent in 2023).

The Issues

Among the most important issues for voters in the elections this year are inflation and the economy (42 percent, which is up eight points from the previous year), immigration and border security (33 percent), and protecting our democracy and freedoms (22 percent). Conservatives are particularly concerned with two issues: immigration (58 percent) and the economy (59 percent). No other issue resonated with even 20 percent for conservatives. Liberals are more diffuse in their concerns, with 48 percent saying abortion rights, 33 percent protecting our democracy and freedoms, and 20 percent the economy.

The Supreme Court continues to have an underwater net approval (42 percent approve, 52 percent disapprove). Voters in red states have a +2 net approval of the Supreme Court, compared to voters in blue states who give the Court a -19 net approval. Black (-35 percent) and Hispanic (-20 percent) voters have particularly negative net approval ratings for the Court.

A plurality (44 percent) of voters say race relations are getting worse, including 47 percent of Black and 50 percent of Hispanic voters. Only 20 percent of respondents believe race relations are getting better. While 16 percent of voters report experiencing racism in their daily lives, 36 percent of Black voters say they experience it every day.

Overall, 26 percent of women experience sexism often, with younger women being much more likely to experience sexism (33 percent of Gen Z and Millennial voters) than older women (28 percent of Gen X and 19 percent of baby boomers). Black women are significantly more likely to report experiencing sexism (39 percent) than Hispanic (26 percent) or white (24 percent) women. Voters who identify as LGBTQ+ also reported experiencing discrimination (34 percent) — a six point increase from 2023.

An overwhelming majority (87 percent) of voters are more concerned that their rights and freedoms will be taken away (67 percent very concerned), particularly those in swing states (91 percent). More than one in five (21 percent) believe they have fewer rights than other people in this country, though for Black voters that number is double (42 percent).

Unchanged from last year, white supremacy is an issue that most voters are worried about, with more than half of respondents (52 percent) stating they are more worried, including 65 percent of Black and 64 percent of Hispanic voters. More than two thirds (68 percent) of Black voters are worried about white nationalism.

Whether voters are concerned about political violence is not something the Civil Rights Monitor Poll has looked at in the past, but in today’s heightened partisan environment, 73 percent of voters say they are worried about an outbreak of political violence after the election in November. Liberals are particularly worried (92 percent), though both moderates (68 percent) and conservatives (63 percent) are also worried. Similar numbers also believe that political violence (74 percent) is likely because some will not accept the results of the election.

Civil Rights Statements and Messaging 

Key civil rights statements are still broadly embraced from this time a year ago: Marriage equality should be a legally protected right (77 percent agree), as should abortion access (64 percent agree). Strong majorities agree that America’s diversity makes it stronger (79 percent) and that the government must do more to protect the civil and human rights of people of color (69 percent). And despite all of the political rhetoric, 57 percent say immigrants contribute more to America than they take.

Project 2025

A large majority of voters strongly oppose nearly all components of Project 2025 that we examined in this year’s poll. Project 2025 has become widely known (70 percent can identify it), and voters are broadly cold towards it (54 percent rate it 0-49 on a thermometer scale of 0-100).

Cuts to overtime pay (91 percent), cuts to Social Security (86 percent), and government monitoring of pregnancies (85 percent) are the components of the Project 2025 agenda that voters oppose the most. Of the 19 agenda items tested, only four are not strongly opposed by a majority of voters.

Tensions are running high as the presidential election approaches, with large majorities both worried about and expecting more political violence. Americans remain rooted in their agreement about key civil rights but are concerned about the state and future of our democracy.

Methodology 

This is a national survey of 1,000 likely voters. The survey was conducted by phone, using professional interviewers, starting on September 3 and ending on September 8, 2024. The survey’s sample was drawn randomly from the voter file and geographically stratified for proportional representation. The data were weighted slightly to adhere to population demographics of voters in the voter file. The margin of error overall is +/- 3.1 percent, with a 95 percent confidence interval. The margin of error for sub-groups will be higher depending on the size of the sub-group sample and the size of the actual response to any given question.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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