Americans are losing faith in their fellow voters
Summary
A recent Gallup survey shows that Americans trust their fellow citizens to make democratic decisions less than ever before in over 50 years. This lack of trust is shared similarly among Democrats, Republicans, and independents, and is lower than the trust people have in local or state governments.Key Facts
- Only 51% of U.S. adults trust other Americans to make democratic decisions, the lowest since Gallup started measuring in 1974.
- Trust in fellow Americans was much higher in the past, with 86% in 1976 and around 78% in the early 2000s.
- Distrust is similar across political parties: 53% of Democrats, 51% of Republicans, and 49% of independents trust voters.
- More Americans trust their local government (67%) and state government (55%) than fellow citizens’ democratic judgment (51%).
- Only 42% trust politicians who hold or seek public office, and just 33% trust the news media.
- Confidence in U.S. institutions such as Congress, the presidency, and banks is also at historic lows.
- The survey was conducted by Gallup from September 1 to 17, 2026, with 1,000 adults participating and a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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