Survey Reveals Voter Sentiments on Election Day Ballots

A recent survey conducted by the Honest Elections Project came out just before the Supreme Court’s hearing on voting issues. The survey indicates that most likely voters think they should receive their ballots by Election Day.

According to the findings, a substantial 83% of respondents believe ballots should be in hand by Election Day. Among these, 57% expressed strong agreement on this issue. This consensus spans across party lines, with 93% of Republicans, 83% of independents, and 74% of Democrats supporting the idea of needing ballots by Election Day.

Additionally, 60% of potential voters think that mail-in ballots arriving after polls close should not be counted. A notable majority of Republicans and independents (80% and 59%, respectively) align with this view, though only 42% of Democrats are on board.

The survey also highlighted that 60% of prospective voters believe that allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day increases the risk of fraud. Again, a majority of Republicans (79%) and independents (58%) hold this belief, while only 44% of Democrats agree.

Furthermore, 59% of all potential voters expressed that they “cannot trust the results of elections that count votes received after polls close on Election Day.” The opinions among Democrats show a split, with 45% approving and 48% disapproving, indicating notable bipartisan distrust.

Conducted by CRC Research, this survey sampled 1,600 likely voters from March 12 to 17, with a margin of error of +/- 2.45 percent.

This report emerges as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on mail-in voting, particularly concerning Mississippi’s policy of counting ballots postmarked by Election Day. The outcome could significantly impact laws in over a dozen states, as places like Texas, California, and Alaska permit mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day, provided they are postmarked in time.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has initiated a lawsuit focusing on election integrity ahead of the 2024 presidential election. RNC attorney Paul Clement pointed out that counting late-arriving ballots could disrupt expected outcomes and lead to public controversy.

“If votes that arrive late after Election Day are counted,” Clement argued, “it could result in a reversal of what was anticipated, leading to confusion down the line.” His emphasis on skepticism around election integrity reflects broader public worries.

After the oral arguments, Jason Sneed, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, stated that the survey results should guide the Supreme Court’s decision. He criticized states that support counting late ballots, asserting such practices compromise election integrity, invite fraud, and generate public skepticism about the democratic process.

“Recent polls confirm there’s overwhelming bipartisan support for a deadline on Election Day,” he added. “States ignoring this are not reflecting public opinion or best practices. A decision to end early voting will reinforce the rule of law and bolster public confidence.”