Democracy

Across 27 countries, more people are unhappy with the state of democracy in their countries than satisfied. Discontent with democracy is tied to concerns about the economy, individual rights and out-of-touch elites.

Many Indonesians are satisfied with the state of their democracy, and more describe the country’s current and future economic situation as good.

Many Indians are satisfied with how democracy is working in India. But most see politicians as corrupt and question the efficacy of elections.

Most Indians are satisfied with their country's direction and the economic prospects of the next generation despite dissatisfaction over issues including unemployment and the efficacy of elections.

Many Nigerians are dissatisfied with Nigeria's democracy and are skeptical about its political and judicial systems. Over half describe the economy as bad.

Voters approached the 2018 midterm elections with some trepidation about the voting process and many had concerns that U.S. election systems may be hacked. After the election, however, most say it was “very easy” to vote and confidence in election security has increased.

Pew Research Center takes the pulse of Americans and people around the world on many issues every year. Read 18 of this year’s standout findings.

Many Americans support the idea of several election policies, including same-day and automatic voter registration. This election, voters in many states weighed in on specific ballot measures.

Many of the millions of Americans voting in Tuesday's midterm elections will have to do so while working around the demands of their jobs – hitting their polling places before work, taking an extra-long lunch break or going afterward and hoping to make it before the polls close. As they stand in line, many of them may wonder why it is that the United States votes on a Tuesday, of all days.

Voters are more enthusiastic about voting than in any midterm election in over 20 years of Pew Research Center polling. Still, millions of Americans will not exercise their right to vote on Tuesday.