Pew Research: Partisan Divide Deepens on Voting Access as 2024 Election Approaches
Recent polling by Pew Research Center reveals a stark partisan divide on voting access in the United States, with Democrats and Republicans holding significantly different views on early and absentee voting options.According to the survey conducted in May 2024, 60% of Americans believe that any U.S. voter should have the option to vote early or absentee without needing to provide a documented reason. However, this overall figure masks a deep partisan split:
82% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support no-excuse early or absentee voting
62% of Republicans and Republican leaners believe these voting methods should only be available to those with a documented reason for not voting in person on Election Day
This partisan gap has widened in recent years, primarily due to shifting views among Republicans. In 2018, 57% of Republicans supported no-excuse early or absentee voting, but this figure has dropped by 20 percentage points. Meanwhile, Democratic views have remained relatively stable, with about 80% consistently supporting these voting options since 2018.The survey also found that views on voting access vary based on state policies:
69% of adults in states with universal mail-in ballot access support no-excuse early or absentee voting
59% in states where voters can request mail-in ballots without an excuse support this option
55% in states requiring a valid excuse for mail-in voting favor no-excuse early or absentee voting
Demographic factors also play a role in shaping opinions on voting access:
Race and ethnicity: 74% of Black adults support no-excuse early or absentee voting, compared to 59% of White and Asian adults, and 56% of Hispanic adults
Age: Adults under 30 are more likely to support these voting options than older age groups
Education: 71% of postgraduates favor no-excuse early or absentee voting, compared to 52% of those with a high school degree or less
The survey also explored concerns about election security. When asked if making it easier to register and vote would affect election security, responses again varied along partisan and demographic lines. For instance, 91% of liberal Democrats believe such changes would not make elections less secure, while 69% of conservative Republicans think it would. As the United States approaches the 2024 presidential election, these divergent views on voting access and security are likely to remain a significant point of contention in the national political discourse.