(OPINION) In an era where political rhetoric has intensified, both sides of the aisle are expressing heightened fears about the stability of American democracy. A Scripps News/Ipsos poll reveals that over 60% of Americans believe violence on or after Election Day, November 5, is “somewhat” or “very likely.”
With 70% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans expecting unrest, and particularly high concerns among battleground state voters like Wisconsin (72%), the specter of post-election violence looms large.
Conservative Americans, in particular, see these threats not as isolated incidents but as part of a broader erosion of public trust caused by political overreach, biased media narratives, and what they perceive as insecure election practices.
These concerns have been exacerbated by unprecedented legal and political attacks on former President Donald Trump, with attempts to prosecute him and even disqualify him from the ballot in some states.
Many Republicans view these efforts as a form of political warfare aimed at disenfranchising millions of Trump supporters by preventing them from casting their votes for the candidate of their choice.
According to the poll, a significant number of Republicans (over 40%) indicated that if their candidate lost, they would attribute the loss to widespread election fraud.
This concern highlights a persistent worry among conservatives about the security and fairness of elections, a concern that has led to calls for reform in several Republican-led states.
For many conservative Americans, traditional in-person voting remains the most reliable method. Only about one-third of Republicans and less than half of Independents expressed confidence in the security of ballot drop boxes, while trust in mail-in voting is only slightly higher (38% among Republicans and 51% among Independents).
These low levels of confidence in alternative voting methods are not seen as unwarranted skepticism by Republicans; rather, they are considered logical reactions to irregularities observed in past elections, such as delayed counts and reports of lost or mishandled ballots.
To address these concerns, conservative-led states have passed legislation to tighten voting regulations, including requiring voter ID, reducing reliance on mail-in ballots, and implementing stricter oversight of ballot drop boxes.
While these efforts are often characterized by Democrats as voter suppression, conservatives argue that they are necessary to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Public trust in mainstream media is another issue shaping conservative views on election integrity and post-election violence. Many Republicans feel that mainstream media disproportionately amplifies accusations against conservative figures, while downplaying or ignoring similar accusations against Democrats.
For example, Trump’s response to the 2020 election results and the January 6 events received continuous media scrutiny, while statements from current administration officials labeling Trump and his supporters as threats to democracy have faced minimal critique.
This perceived double standard has led many conservatives to seek information from alternative news sources, including Fox News and Newsmax, which are seen as more reflective of conservative perspectives and values. READ MORE
