Only 29% of Americans Believe Trump Will Accept Election Results

As the 2024 presidential election nears, most Americans express readiness to accept its outcome, yet significant divisions remain, particularly along political lines. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll reveals that 81% of Americans, irrespective of their preferred candidate, are prepared to accept the election results. However, confidence in the candidates themselves varies sharply, with only 29% believing former President Donald Trump will accept the outcome, compared to 68% who believe Vice President Kamala Harris is prepared to do so, according to a recent report by ABC News.

This difference is even more striking among the supporters of each candidate. A notable 92% of Harris’ supporters are ready to accept the results, while this figure drops to 76% among Trump’s supporters. Moreover, 21% of Trump’s backers—representing 8% of all adults surveyed—indicate they are not prepared to accept the election’s outcome, reflecting ongoing tensions within the electorate.

Political Divides Deepen

The poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, highlights deepening political rifts. Among Harris’ supporters, a mere 6% believe Trump is ready to accept the election results, whereas only 44% of Trump’s supporters think the same about Harris. Conversely, 97% of Harris’ supporters are confident in her willingness to accept the results, contrasting with a divided opinion among Trump’s base, where only 58% share this confidence.

Concerns Over Election Integrity

The poll also uncovers persistent doubts about election integrity, particularly among those aligned with Trump. While 65% of Americans express confidence that votes will be counted accurately, a substantial 34% remain skeptical—a figure consistent with sentiments observed during the 2022 midterm elections. Additionally, 34% still question the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, with little change since his inauguration.

This skepticism is closely tied to confidence in the 2024 election process. Among those who believe Biden was legitimately elected, nearly nine in ten express confidence in an accurate vote count this year. In contrast, only 26% of those who doubt Biden’s 2020 victory share this confidence.

Partisan and Ideological Gaps

Partisan affiliations continue to play a significant role in shaping these perceptions. The poll shows that half of Republicans lack confidence in the accuracy of the vote count, compared to 90% of Democrats and 64% of independents who express confidence. Similarly, while 96% of Democrats accept Biden’s legitimacy as president, only 66% of independents and 30% of Republicans agree.

Despite these differences, the readiness to accept the 2024 election outcome appears less polarized. Approximately eight in ten Republicans and independents indicate they are prepared to accept the results, alongside nearly 90% of Democrats. Ideology also influences confidence levels, with just 38% of those identifying as very conservative trusting the process compared to 89% of liberals.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online from August 23-27, 2024, in both English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 2,496 adults. The partisan breakdown was evenly distributed among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. The margin of error for the full sample is 2 percentage points. Further details on the methodology can be found on ABC News’ official site.

As the election approaches, these divisions highlight the deep mistrust within the American electorate regarding the electoral process and the legitimacy of its outcomes.