On the Country’s 250th Anniversary, the American People Are in a Sour Mood
Still, many express some optimism: Most people say they feel “hopeful” and 54% say they’re “happy” when thinking about the future.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Citizens in Advanced Economies Want Significant Changes to Their Political Systems
Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.
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Wide partisan divide on whether voting is a fundamental right or a privilege with responsibilities
57% of Americans view voting as “a fundamental right for every adult U.S. citizen and should not be restricted in any way.”
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More U.S. locations experimenting with alternative voting systems
We identified 261 U.S. jurisdictions that have adopted some voting method other than the winner-take-all system most American voters know.
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Many Western Europeans think mandatory voting is important, but Americans are split
Around two-thirds of adults in Germany, France and the UK say it is important for their national government to make voting compulsory.
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Share of Republicans saying ‘everything possible’ should be done to make voting easy declines sharply
An 85% majority of Democrats say everything possible should be done to make voting easy; 28% of Republicans say this.
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Many in U.S., Western Europe Say Their Political System Needs Major Reform
In the U.S., concerns about political corruption are especially widespread. Two-in-three Americans agree that the phrase “most politicians are corrupt” describes their country well.
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Large Majority of the Public Views Prosecution of Capitol Rioters as ‘Very Important’
Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say prosecuting those who broke in on Jan. 6 is very important and that penalties for them will likely be less severe than they should be.
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How America Changed During Donald Trump’s Presidency
Donald Trump’s four-year tenure in the White House revealed extraordinary fissures in American society but left little doubt that he is a figure unlike any other in the nation’s history.
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Even before Capitol riot, most people in Germany, France and the UK had concerns about U.S. political system
Majorities in all three countries said in a fall 2020 survey that the U.S. system needs either major changes or to be completely reformed.
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Biden Begins Presidency With Positive Ratings; Trump Departs With Lowest-Ever Job Mark
68% of the public does not want Donald Trump to remain a major political figure in the future.
