Safety and Confidence
at the Polls
Safety and Confidence
at the Polls
How perceptions of election-related violence impact women’s voting behavior and turnout
For many voters, the ballot box is a place of empowerment—but for voters in some marginalized groups, it can also be a source of fear. Across America, election officials and law enforcement leaders work hard to ensure that voting is, and feels, safe. Our democracy falls short when any American is harassed, threatened, or physically harmed during the voting process. It also falls short when Americans feel they need to factor concerns about their personal safety into decisions about when and how to vote—or whether to vote at all.
In surveys and focus groups before and after the 2024 general election, the States United Democracy Center researched how voters, including women and others from marginalized groups, experience and think about voting-related violence and harassment. We studied how state legislators, law enforcement, and election administration teams understand and address violence and harassment against voters. We also identified how safety during the voting process can be improved in the future to empower voters of all genders and races.
For many voters, the ballot box is a place of empowerment—but for voters in some marginalized groups, it can also be a source of fear. Across America, election officials and law enforcement leaders work hard to ensure that voting is, and feels, safe. Our democracy falls short when any American is harassed, threatened, or physically harmed during the voting process. It also falls short when Americans feel they need to factor concerns about their personal safety into decisions about when and how to vote—or whether to vote at all.
In surveys and focus groups before and after the 2024 general election, the States United Democracy Center researched how voters, including women and others from marginalized groups, experience and think about voting-related violence and harassment. We studied how state legislators, law enforcement, and election administration teams understand and address violence and harassment against voters. We also identified how safety during the voting process can be improved in the future to empower voters of all genders and races.
Select a snapshot to dig into our report on voter safety
Snapshot 1
Concerns, Precautions, and Impact on Voting Turnout
How safe did voters expect to feel and how did this impact their voting plans?
Snapshot 2
Experiences of Marginalized Groups
Who faced the greatest risk of violence at the polls?
Snapshot 3
Partisan Perceptions
How does political polarization shape views on election violence?
Snapshot 4
Safety Measures at the Polls
Are voters protected–and are authorities doing enough?
Project Summary
Voters are Mostly Safe–But We Can Do Better
Amid rising political polarization and concerns of election-related violence, the Safety and Confidence at the Polls study offers an unprecedented look at how these issues affect voters—particularly women.
This report highlights the fears, experiences, and resilience of marginalized groups during the 2024 election, offering a data-driven roadmap for improving safety at the polls and fostering a more inclusive democracy. Explore our findings—and then discover the stories, data, and solutions shaping the future of our elections.
Amid rising political polarization and concerns of election-related violence, the Safety and Confidence at the Polls study offers an unprecedented look at how these issues affect voters—particularly women.
This report highlights the fears, experiences, and resilience of marginalized groups during the 2024 election, offering a data-driven roadmap for improving safety at the polls and fostering a more inclusive democracy. Explore our findings—and then discover the stories, data, and solutions shaping the future of our elections.
Key Findings
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An overwhelming majority of women and gender-nonconforming respondents reported experiencing no violence or harassment in the 2024 election. However, both of these groups reported greater concerns over voting-related violence or harassment than men did. These concerns drove changes in voting behaviors like not interacting with others at the polling place or going with other people to vote.
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Concerns about violence or harassment while voting impacted turnout. Comparing pre-election survey responses to verified voting records after the election, we found that respondents who thought it was likely they would encounter election-related violence and harassment turned out at lower rates in the 2024 election than other respondents. As many as 6 million Americans may have decided not to vote in the 2024 election due to safety concerns.
- Voters broadly support a range of steps to improve safety at the polls such as security cameras and reduced wait times. While not all election jurisdictions have been able to adopt all the protections that voters most want, clear communication about existing safety measures in place and extremely low rates of violence at the polls are helpful to increasing feelings of safety.
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An overwhelming majority of women and gender-nonconforming respondents reported experiencing no violence or harassment in the 2024 election. However, both of these groups reported greater concerns over voting-related violence or harassment than men did. These concerns drove changes in voting behaviors like not interacting with others at the polling place or going with other people to vote.
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Concerns about violence or harassment while voting impacted turnout. Comparing pre-election survey responses to verified voting records after the election, we found that respondents who thought it was likely they would encounter election-related violence and harassment turned out at lower rates in the 2024 election than other respondents. As many as 6 million Americans may have decided not to vote in the 2024 election due to safety concerns.
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Voters broadly support a range of steps to improve safety at the polls such as security cameras and reduced wait times. While not all election jurisdictions have been able to adopt all the protections that voters most want, clear communication about existing safety measures in place and extremely low rates of violence at the polls are helpful to increasing feelings of safety.
Recommendations
We recommend steps to empower all voters to turn out with confidence.
All parties interested in voter safety should communicate to voters:
- A list of specific safety measures already in place at their polling places;
- That election officials, election workers, law enforcement, and state legislators work hard, in a nonpartisan way, to keep voters safe;
- That it’s safe to vote across the country and rates of violence at the polls are extremely low; and
- That people across political parties overwhelmingly reject violence and harassment in voting.
Public officials who run elections should also consider what election safety measures appeal to voters, including shorter lines, security cameras, barriers to prevent lingering, and firearm bans.
Voting was mostly safe in 2024, but not all groups felt safe. Everyone with an interest in free and fair elections—including state legislators, law enforcement agencies, election administrators, pro-democracy organizations, and engaged citizens—should consider the most effective ways to help voters cast their ballots safely and with confidence.
We recommend steps to empower all voters to turn out with confidence.
All parties interested in voter safety should communicate to voters:
- A list of specific safety measures already in place at their polling places;
- That election officials, election workers, law enforcement, and state legislators work hard, in a nonpartisan way, to keep voters safe;
- That it’s safe to vote across the country and rates of violence at the polls are extremely low; and
- That people across political parties overwhelmingly reject violence and harassment in voting.
Public officials who run elections should also consider what election safety measures appeal to voters, including shorter lines, security cameras, barriers to prevent lingering, and firearm bans.
Voting was mostly safe in 2024, but not all groups felt safe. Everyone with an interest in free and fair elections—including state legislators, law enforcement agencies, election administrators, pro-democracy organizations, and engaged citizens—should consider the most effective ways to help voters cast their ballots safely and with confidence.
Data Sources & Methodology
How We Conducted This Research
Focus groups
We conducted seven focus groups before the 2024 election, including three each of white women and women of color, subdivided into Democrats, independents, and Republicans. The seventh group was gender-nonconforming voters. These groups explored general impressions about safety during the voting process and how safety considerations factor into voting.
Surveys of state and local officials with election responsibility
We conducted a survey before the election of state legislators, and surveys before and after the election of law enforcement, election officials, and election workers. We assessed their perceptions of violence and harassment toward voters and what they do to keep voters safe.
General population surveys
We conducted pre- and post-election surveys of Americans examining expectations about violence and harassment in the 2024 election, what they actually experienced, the safety precautions they took, and their broader views about voting safety. After the election we also compared data from our surveys with verified voting records.
Full methodology details are available in the Methodology section and in the downloadable report.
Focus groups
We conducted seven focus groups before the 2024 election, including three each of white women and women of color, subdivided into Democrats, independents, and Republicans. The seventh group was gender-nonconforming voters. These groups explored general impressions about safety during the voting process and how safety considerations factor into voting.
Surveys of state and local officials with election responsibility
We conducted a survey before the election of state legislators, and surveys before and after the election of law enforcement, election officials, and election workers. We assessed their perceptions of violence and harassment toward voters and what they do to keep voters safe.
General population surveys
We conducted pre- and post-election surveys of Americans examining expectations about violence and harassment in the 2024 election, what they actually experienced, the safety precautions they took, and their broader views about voting safety. After the election we also compared data from our surveys with verified voting records.
Full methodology details are available in the Methodology section and in the downloadable report.
Defining election-related violence and harassment to research participants
In our focus groups, we defined “political violence” as “the use of violence, threats, intimidation, or harassment with the goal of preventing or discouraging others from exercising their full social or political rights, and/or advancing one’s own political aims.”
In our survey of state legislators, we defined “political violence” as “any threats, intimidation, harassment, or attacks intended to prevent or discourage others from exercising their political rights.”
In other surveys, we asked questions about five specific types of incidents, encompassing both physical violence and other forms of intimidation:
- Being harassed, threatened, or intimidated verbally or in writing
- Having personal or derogatory information published online
- Having property destroyed or defaced
- Being pushed, blocked, or hurt physically in a non-serious way
- Being beaten up, attacked with a weapon, or otherwise seriously injured or killed
On this site, we refer to acts of violence as distinct from harassment, threats, and other behavior meant to intimidate voters or make them feel unsafe.
In our focus groups, we defined “political violence” as “the use of violence, threats, intimidation, or harassment with the goal of preventing or discouraging others from exercising their full social or political rights, and/or advancing one’s own political aims.”
In our survey of state legislators, we defined “political violence” as “any threats, intimidation, harassment, or attacks intended to prevent or discourage others from exercising their political rights.”
In other surveys, we asked questions about five specific types of incidents, encompassing both physical violence and other forms of intimidation:
- Being harassed, threatened, or intimidated verbally or in writing
- Having personal or derogatory information published online
- Having property destroyed or defaced
- Being pushed, blocked, or hurt physically in a non-serious way
- Being beaten up, attacked with a weapon, or otherwise seriously injured or killed
On this site, we refer to acts of violence as distinct from harassment, threats, and other behavior meant to intimidate voters or make them feel unsafe.
Partners & Acknowledgements
Made Possible Through Collaboration and Support
We extend our gratitude to the organizations, researchers, and individuals who contributed to the success of this project. Our work would not have been possible without the support of Pivotal, YouGov, Civic Pulse, Erin Cassese, and Liliana Mason.
We extend our gratitude to the organizations, researchers, and individuals who contributed to the success of this project. Our work would not have been possible without the support of Pivotal, YouGov, Civic Pulse, Erin Cassese, and Liliana Mason.