An NPR-Marist poll released Monday shows that voters believe there is a greater chance that foreign actors would hack into voter databases than alter vote results, a view also held by security experts and election officials.
Experts further support the use of paper ballot systems instead of electronic voting machines and voters seem to agree.
“I read these responses as showing the public has a fairly nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the risks we face,” said Lawrence Norden, an election security expert. “I think the majority of respondents have it right: The risks we face are risks, and we shouldn’t overstate them. At the same time, the risks are real, and we should be taking measures that would reduce them, such as replacing paperless electronic systems with systems that read paper ballots.”
According to the poll, one third believe Russia or another adversary would attack the voting system and alter vote tallies, while another 40 percent don’t see elections as fair.
On the other hand, 68 percent of respondents don’t think it’s likely that a foreign country would tamper with the votes of the upcoming November elections.
Furthermore, 40 percent of registered voters believe it is possible that what happened in 2016 could happen again, that hackers target registration databases. However, 55 percent don’t believe this is likely to happen.
The poll further found that the majority of GOP and Democratic voters, as well as independents, all believe paper ballots would make elections safer. Also, more than 66 percent believe foreign adversaries could use social media to spread disinformation about candidates as social media companies were failing to address this issue.
However, voters in general expressed confidence in federal agencies and state officials, with over 50 percent of them saying FBI and state election officials had done “a great deal” or a “good amount” to combat interference.
The poll was conducted from September 5-9 and covered 777 registered voters.
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