Read the latest report examining perceptions of voting rights in the Pacific Northwest – and learn more about how our views on voter equity and election security impact
our feelings about American democracy today.
Washington
In Washington state, nearly half of voters rank the state’s election process as one of the best in the nation. Yet 74% of voters in the state are concerned about the current and future state of democracy.
What do Washingtonians consider the biggest threats to our democracy? And, how do current debates about the country’s election laws impact their perceptions of voter discrimination versus the threat of widespread fraud?
Our latest report attempts to shed light on how Washington voters feel about these issues going into the 2022 mid-term elections. Some highlights include:
Despite changing voter laws across the nation, nearly three-quarters of Washingtonians believe in the security of the state vote-by-mail system.
27% of likely voters in Washington feel laws in the state make it disproportionately harder for minority populations and people with disabilities to vote in elections.
42% believe the political rhetoric about voter fraud in the United States is valid – and the need to raise awareness of election rigging and illegal voting in order to change the outcome of our elections.
Oregon
A recent study by The Cost of Voting Index ranks Oregon as the #1 state for voter equity and accessibility. This led us to wonder how Oregonians feel about the state of voting rights and access to the ballot box – including their views on the populist rhetoric around voter fraud today. In our research, we found that:
52% of likely voters in Oregon agree the state is one of the best in the country in terms of running a free and fair election.
25% feel Oregon’s vote is subject to voter discrimination and disenfranchisement.
69% say they are confident in the safety, integrity, and accuracy of voting by mail.
73% say they are very or somewhat concerned about the stability of democracy in the United States.
What does this mean for voting rights?
In addition to our analysis of local voter attitudes and beliefs about the evolving landscape of voting rights today, this report reveals a deepening crisis of faith in our elections. It highlights the increasingly conflicting views voters have on the balance between increasing access to the vote and imposing voter restrictions to limit voter fraud.
One thing is clear: voters in the Pacific Northwest are becoming increasingly worried about how well our system will hold up in this next election. And this raises serious questions about how things may change in the run-up to the presidential election in 2024.
