By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll finds a large percentage of voters are expressing concerns that their vote will not be accurately counted on November 8. Pairing the “vote-rigging” accusation with Donald Trump’s falling numbers reveal how this election is trending toward a greater polarization of the American electorate.
Polling conducted from Oct. 13-15 surveyed 1,737 likely voters and 1,999 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus three and two percentage points, respectively found 81 percent of Trump supporters believe the election could be “stolen” from Trump as a result of widespread voter fraud.
On Monday, Trump took to Twitter to lash out at Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who have not embraced his message of a rigged election. In an early morning tweet Trump wrote, “Of course there is large scale voter fraud happening on and before election day. Why do Republican leaders deny what is going on? So naive!”
Ryan, who Trump is now calling a “loser,” pushed back against claims of a stolen election as have other prominent GOP leaders. However, Trump’s supporters are standing with their man.
The latest survey finds on the claims of a “rigged election” 48 percent of Trump supporters said they were “not too” or “not at all” confident that voting across the country will be accurately counted on Election Day, compared to 13 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters.
Voters across all political parties believe the media is biased towards Clinton with 44 percent saying the media is biased in trying to help elect Hillary Clinton, including 72 percent of Republicans, 43 percent of Independents, and 22 percent of Democrats.
In contrast, only 11 percent of Democrats, 7 percent of Republicans and 6 percent of Independents believe the media is biased in trying to elect Trump.
One-third of all voters surveyed believe polling results are also biased toward Clinton with 60 percent of Republicans, 29 percent of Independents, and 15 percent of Democrats agreeing the polls are unfairly favorable to the Democrat nominee.
There is great concern that the Russian government is playing a hand in the 2016 election with 39 percent of all voters saying Russia has influenced or tried to influence the 2016 election. While 29 percent believe they have not, 32 percent didn’t know. Democrats were more likely to believe Russian (50 percent) compared to 32 percent of Republicans.
With just weeks left until the election, pollsters are working overtime to examine a political season unlike any other.
POLITICO/Morning Consult polls are seeking to mine the mood of voters leading up to Election Day.
Full results can be seen here.
