A survey of likely voters by the veteran polling firm of Rasmussen Reports says 51 percent of respondents believe that election results should be completed within 24 hours of the polls closing.
This includes 12 percent who believe votes should be counted no more than three hours after polls close.
The survey follows the situation in California, where election results still hadn’t come in days after the election. Election officials estimated it could take 37 days for the counting to be completed, which has contributed to widespread criticism and suspicion, especially where the race for Los Angeles mayor is concerned.
According to Rasmussen, “70% of Republicans, 34% of Democrats and 51% of voters not affiliated with either major party think complete election results should be provided no more than 24 hours after polls close on Election Day.”
The survey of 1,062 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on June 8-10 by Rasmussen. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
“California uses electronic election systems to count their votes,” Rasmussen noted. “Sixty-one percent of Likely Voters trust the electronic voting systems currently in use in America, including 28% who have a lot of trust in the machines. Thirty-five percent (35%) distrust electronic voting systems, including 12% who don’t trust them at all. Voters who distrust electronic voting systems are more likely to say complete election results should be available within 24 hours after the polls close.”
Going further, Rasmussen revealed that 82 % of survey respondents “believe it is important to prevent election cheating in the upcoming November elections, including 68% who consider it Very Important to prevent cheating.
“Majorities of every political category – 75% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats and 64% of unaffiliated voters – consider it Very Important to prevent election cheating in the upcoming November elections,” Rasmussen noted.
While 42% of Democrats have a lot of trust in electronic voting systems, only 17% of Republicans and 24% of unaffiliated voters have that level of trust in the machines, the polling firm said.
