AP-NORC poll finds majority of Americans say civil liberties and voting rights face threat

A new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that a majority of Americans believe some civil liberties, including the right to vote, are facing threats in the United States. The results were reported by The Hill, based on the poll released in connection with the center’s broader look at public views of rights and freedoms.

According to the survey findings, 66 percent of respondents said the right to vote is facing either a “major threat” or a “minor threat.” Another 33 percent said it is not facing a threat. The poll results were presented as an assessment of public perceptions of whether key rights are under pressure.

The survey’s framing ties the voting-rights question to a wider set of civil liberties concerns. Respondents were asked to evaluate the level of threat facing the right to vote, with the share describing it as a major or minor threat forming a clear majority. The poll’s results also indicate that a sizable portion of the public distinguishes between rights it believes are threatened and those it does not view as being under threat.

The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey was conducted to gauge Americans’ views, including how they characterize the risks to rights. Polling of this sort often serves as a snapshot of public concern rather than a determination of legal status or policy outcomes, and the reported figures reflect respondents’ perceptions at the time of the survey.

Public discussion of voting access and civil liberties has intensified in recent years, with disputes frequently focused on election administration, rules governing voter identification, ballot access, and the use of administrative and enforcement mechanisms. The survey results place those disputes in a broader context of public confidence about whether the right to vote is being protected.

While the poll addresses perceived threats, it does not by itself establish what, if any, specific government actions are causing those concerns. Legal changes and court rulings can affect election procedures, enforcement practices, and administrative decision-making, but those determinations generally require review through official records, such as legislation, agency rules, and court orders.