Domestic Election Observation and Public Confidence in U.S. Elections

• In Event: Election Observation and Public Confidence in Elections

Abstract

In the United States, despite its long history of democracy, recent years have brought about significant concerns with voter trust in the electoral process. In other contexts characterized by low trust in electoral processes and outcomes, domestic non- partisan election observation has helped mitigate these issues. Because the practice is historically rare in the United States, there is limited evidence as to whether it can have such an effect in the U.S. context, especially given increases in partisan polarization around election administration and the acceptance of election outcomes. Can the presence and assessment of nonpartisan domestic election observers persuade voters of the credibility of the election? If so, are there specific aspects of the domestic observation missions that may prove more effective in convincing voters than others? Can training as an observer have effects on trust in electoral institutions beyond a given election? Using two survey experiments fielded in 2022, we find that the general presence and positive assessment of domestic nonpartisan election observers increased confidence in the electoral results and process, especially among Republican respondents, regardless of observer identity. Using a training module, the paper also lays the groundwork for testing the effects of participating as an election observer on confidence in the electoral system.

Authors

• Susan D. Hyde, University of California, Berkeley

• Jennie Barker, University of California-Berkeley

• Oren Samet, University of California, Berkeley