Opportunities for further education on key election safeguards already in place
A recent survey of New Mexico residents reveals that despite the prevalence of disinformation and misinformation surrounding elections, the majority of respondents (53%) believe the state’s elections are safe and secure.
The survey, conducted between August 23rd and September 4th, aimed to gauge public perceptions of election security in New Mexico. The results provide a unique window into what the public thinks about elections and voting security, highlighting both areas of confidence as well as where people are unsure or need more information.
“While disinformation appears to be reaching people, it is not winning over the majority of New Mexicans,” said Alissa Barnes, Executive Director at ProgressNow New Mexico. “For example, while we saw some respondents express concerns about election security, many others cited direct experience with the electoral process as a reason for their trust in its security.”
People who felt elections were safe and secure pointed to established security measures like monitored systems, separation of duties, voting machine security, well-trained workers, and adequate safeguards.
Another finding from the survey found that 26% of respondents said they were unsure whether elections are safe and secure, but when asked what would increase their confidence, these individuals mentioned practices already implemented by election officials, including:
- Implementing robust voting systems with post-election audits
- Ensuring bipartisan oversight of the electoral process
- Double-checking ballots for accuracy
- Conducting manual ballot counting or recounts (already required in close races)
- Emphasizing honesty and responsibility among election officials
- Establishing legal and procedural safeguards
These tactics were also mentioned by respondents who strongly agreed that elections are safe and secure as well as those who somewhat disagreed.
The results suggest that while disinformation is reaching some people, including via a small but vocal set of election deniers in our state, there is an opportunity to further uplift helpful, accurate information on New Mexico’s reputation for secure elections as well the many safeguards already in place.
About The Survey:
- Audience: New Mexico
- Weighted Sample Size: 573
- Dates in field: Friday, August 23, 2024 to Tuesday, September 03, 2024
- Weighting factors: age, education, gender, party, race, and 2020 presidential vote choice
Participants were asked a series of demographic questions including age, race, education, income, and party identification, along with the following key question “To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: I trust that New Mexico elections are safe and secure.” Participants were then asked a series of qualitative questions, including why they had that opinion, and what their concerns, fears, and feelings were about the safety and security of elections in New Mexico.
Contact: For more information, email [email protected]