Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey finds two-thirds of Americans worry political leaders could pressure election officials

A Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey released ahead of the 2026 midterm elections found that 67 percent of American adults are concerned that political leaders will pressure election officials to change election outcomes, a measure that has become a prominent focus in discussions of election security.

The survey, highlighted by The Hill on Wednesday, asked respondents about their level of concern that political leaders could pressure election officials to alter election results. According to the report, 67 percent of adults said they were concerned either “a great deal” or a “fair amount.”

In the same survey results discussed by The Hill, the next-highest concern was reported at 57 percent. The Hill’s account did not provide full detail in the excerpt for what that second item specifically was, but it placed it as the second-most widely shared worry among respondents.

The findings add to a broader pattern of public concern about the integrity of election administration and the pressures that can surround close contests, including at the level of local election offices and officials responsible for certifying results.

Election administrators and officials across jurisdictions manage many procedural steps tied to registration, voting, tabulation, and certification, and they also operate within state legal frameworks that govern how results are validated. Concerns about political influence can raise questions about due process in election disputes and the safeguards meant to keep election administration grounded in election law rather than political direction.

Election security concerns are expected to be a key theme as the 2026 midterms approach, particularly in the run-up to voting periods that begin months before Election Day. While the survey reflects public attitudes, the practical impact would depend on how election offices respond to oversight, misinformation, and any efforts to influence procedures through legal challenges or other political pressure.

The Kettering Foundation, which publishes polling and research, and Gallup, which conducts public opinion surveys, have both been active in measuring confidence and concerns related to civic institutions. The Hill’s report places the new election-administraion pressure measure within that broader effort to track how Americans view the fairness and resilience of the election process.