The Independent View: Partisan Divides Color American Election Security Views

Two-Thirds of Americans believe Russia or other Countries will try to Digitally Disrupt the Midterm Elections, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans to believe and worry about it, according to a New Pew Research Center Survey.

80% Democrats say Election interference is somewhat or very likely, compared to only 53% of Republicans.

The Poll comes one week before the Nov. 6 elections and follows reports from Top Law Enforcement and Intelligence Officials and Social Media Companies about continued Russian and Others Information Operations aimed at Influencing the Elections.

The Trump Administration says it has made Combating Election Interference a Top Priority, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen this weekend told "Fox News Sunday" that the U.S. is "more prepared than we've ever been."

But as in other areas, Partisan Attitudes are Affecting the Public's Confidence in the Administration's Ability to Thwart Election Interference.

Of the Democrats who Predict it will happen, 83% consider it a Major Problem, compared to only 47% of the Republicans who predict it will happen.

Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to believe U.S. Election systems are Secure, 59% versus 34%, and that Federal Officials are “making serious efforts” to Prevent Disruptions, 72% versus 43%.

Americans are also Divided about their On States’ efforts. Nearly 80% of Republicans in GOP-Controlled States express Confidence in their States’ Preparations, compared to only 55% of Democrats in those States. The Gap is much smaller, 69% versus 67%, in Democratic-Controlled States.

Overall, only 45% of Americans Express Confidence in the Security of Election systems Nationwide, while Two-Thirds of Americans Express Confidence in the Security of their States’ systems.

A bare Majority, 55%, of Americans is at least somewhat Confident that Federal Officials are working hard to Protect the Election from Hackers, while slightly more Americans, 63%, say the same about their States’ Governments.

In part, these Views reflect Deeply Cynical Views among Members of Both Parties about the other Party. Majorities of both Democrats (64%) and Republicans (56%) say the Opposing Party has Little or No Commitment to Fair and Accurate Elections in the U.S.