Texans Evenly Divided on Prioritization of Ballot Access vs. Election Integrity

A new report by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University finds that Texas registered voters are split right down the middle when it comes to choosing between the competing philosophical principles of ballot access and election integrity. They also are divided in their perception of the extent of voter fraud which takes place in U.S. elections.

In a survey carried out in late April and early May of this year, Texas registered voters were asked which of the following two competing principles they believe is most important:

1. “That we do everything possible to stop voter fraud and illegal immigrants from voting”, or
2. “That eligible citizens aren’t denied the ability to vote.”

Exactly one-half (50%) of Texans prioritized the election integrity goal of doing everything possible to stop voter fraud and illegal immigrants from voting, and, exactly one-half (50%) of Texans prioritized the ballot access goal that eligible citizens aren’t denied the ability to vote. While Texans are equally divided in their prioritization of these two competing principles, an overwhelming majority of Texas Republicans prioritize election integrity (80%) rather than ballot access (20%), just as an overwhelming majority of Texas Democrats prioritize ballot access (88%) rather than election integrity (12%).

One in four (24%) Texas registered voters believes that there is a great deal of voter fraud in U.S. elections, while 35% believe there is some voter fraud, 30% very little voter fraud, and 11% no voter fraud. Dr. Michael O. Adams, Founding Director of the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University, highlighted that “Republicans and Democrats have very different perceptions regarding the extent of voter fraud in the country, with more than eight out of ten Republicans believing that there is either a great deal or some voter fraud in U.S. elections, double the three out of ten Democrats who share this same opinion.” Conversely, Adams noted, “seventy percent of these Texas Democrats believe there is very little or no voter fraud in U.S. elections, more than four times the number of Texas Republicans who think there’s very little to no voter fraud taking place in the U.S.”

The full report is available on the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center website.