20 percent of Arizonans believe widespread voter fraud occurred during election
Dec 19, 2016, 7:41 AM | Updated: 11:34 am
(Nicki Kohl/Telegraph Herald via AP)
PHOENIX — About 20 percent of Arizonans believe widespread voter fraud occurred during the 2016 presidential election, while an additional 20 percent said they were unsure it happened, a poll released Monday said.
“I find it alarming that 20 percent of voters believe there was widespread voter fraud and another 20 percent were not sure if there was making a total of 40 percent who were uncomfortable with our recent voting process,” Mike Noble, managing partner and chief pollster of O.H. Predictive Insights, said in a press release.
Voter fraud became a hot-button issue during the campaign after both sides accused the other of fraudulent practices or outright intimidation. President-elect Donald Trump said in October that voting fraud is “very, very common” despite evidence not supporting that conclusion.
Arizona officials insisted there were numerous safeguards in place to protect election results.
“The thought that the whole system is rigged from the get-go is just not accurate,” Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes in October.
This week’s poll of 700 registered Arizona voters showed more independent voters — 23 percent — felt there was widespread voter fraud than either Democrats or Republicans, of which 18 percent in each party said they believed it.
About 67 percent of Democrats said they felt there was no fishy voting going on, while 61 percent of independents and 56 percent of Republicans believe the same.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next two years to make sure the public understands that our voting system is secure, honest and transparent,” Wes Gullet with O.H. Predictive Insights said. “After observing elections here and internationally I’m confident we have the best election system in the world, but clearly respondents to this survey are unconvinced.”
About 44 percent of voters age 18-29, who typically do not vote in large numbers, said they felt widespread voter fraud happened during the election, compared to just 27 percent of 30-49 year old and 18 percent of those 50 and older.
The poll was conducted Dec. 7 and 8 and has a margin of error of 3.7 percent.