In the midst of a contentious presidential campaign, a recent University of Rhode Island opinion poll found that Rhode Islanders from different party affiliations shared similar concerns about election integrity, trust in election officials, and worries related to election-related violence. The poll, conducted by the Rhode Island Survey Initiative, surveyed 500 residents and revealed that a majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans believe that votes are accurately counted and are concerned about political violence in the U.S.
However, there was a divide on concerns about voter fraud, with Republicans and Independents expressing more worry about issues such as noncitizen voting and vote tampering compared to Democrats. The survey also revealed that a majority of respondents trust state election systems but have concerns about the upcoming election, particularly related to AI-generated fake political information and political violence.
In terms of the upcoming elections, the survey found that a majority of registered voters indicated they would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and incumbent U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Additionally, the survey delved into various topics affecting Rhode Island residents, including government spending, education, and quality of life.
The annual Rhode Island Survey Initiative aims to provide evidence-based insights to communities across the state and is conducted by a team of researchers from URI. Students are involved in the survey process, conducting research and interviews to help construct the survey questionnaire. The initiative aims to address different focus areas each year to gauge the changing attitudes of Rhode Island residents.
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