A new survey from the Hobby School for Public Affairs at the University of Houston reveals that two-thirds of Texas voters are confident that the upcoming U.S. presidential election will be conducted fairly and accurately. However, a significant portion of voters expressed concerns about election security, including the potential for fraud, accurate mail-in ballot counting, and non-citizen voting.
The survey, released on Wednesday, highlights a partisan divide on election-related issues. While 73% of Texas voters agree that the losing presidential candidate should concede after the election results are certified, this view is held by 95% of Democrats but only 52% of Republicans.
READ: Vanessa Guillén’s Sister Says Unsourced ‘The Atlantic’ Report About Trump Is False
“Texas voters feel more confident that elections in Texas and in their home counties will be conducted fairly, with 85% saying they believe that about state elections and 86% saying the same about county elections, but it varies by partisan affiliation,” said Renée Cross, researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School. “For example, 92% of Republicans have confidence in elections conducted in Texas, along with 87% of independents. Yet that level of confidence drops to 77% among Democrats.”
In contrast, confidence in national elections is lower, with 69% of Texas voters expressing faith in the fairness of the U.S. presidential election. This includes 95% of Democrats, 59% of independents, but only 45% of Republicans.
The survey also found broad consensus on certain issues. Nine out of 10 voters, across racial and partisan lines, agree that the influence of money in politics is a threat to democracy. Additionally, 82% of respondents believe biased media coverage poses a similar threat.
Key findings from the report include:
- Non-citizen voting: 56% of voters are confident non-citizens won’t be allowed to vote in the presidential election, with Democrats showing more confidence (89%) compared to Republicans (26%).
- Mail-in voting: 57% of voters believe mail-in ballots will be counted accurately, with higher confidence among Black voters (74%) than white voters (55%).
- Voter suppression: 43% of voters see voter suppression as a major issue nationwide, but only 25% view it as a problem in local elections.
- Electoral fraud: 50% of voters believe fraud is a major issue nationally, but confidence in Texas and local elections is higher, with only 22% expressing concerns about fraud at the state level.
The survey also examined other threats to democracy, with 76% of respondents identifying the use of the legal system to target political opponents as a concern, and 71% expressing concern over efforts to overthrow the government.
A strong majority, 81%, support requiring Texas voters to present an ID before voting, while 56% favor online voter registration—though Texas does not currently allow it.
The full survey, conducted between Sept. 26 and Oct. 10, is available on the Hobby School website. The margin of error is +/-2.69%.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.