Research and analysis by the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group is intended to help thought leaders and influencers listen more closely, and respond more fully, to the views and concerns of the American people.
Each report represents the views of its respective author(s) and not the collective views of Voter Study Group. However, reports are intentionally reviewed by Voter Study Group members spanning the political spectrum who may comment and advise prior to publication.
Robert Griffin, Mayesha Quasem, John Sides, Michael Tesler | October 2021
Attitudes on racial inequality, police, the Black Lives Matter movement, immigration, and Muslims shifted significantly between 2011 and 2020 — but mostly among Democrats and independents. During this period, the Democratic coalition has become more consistently liberal on racial issues. This Voter Study Group report examines a vast partisan divergence on race over a decade marked by identity-inflected politics and the push for racial justice.
In this report, Lee Drutman looks at Republican perceptions of the 2020 election and reveals a set of beliefs that strongly correlate with support for Trump and his "Stop the Steal" narrative.
While it’s not unusual for a losing candidate’s supporters to express skepticism about election results, faith in election 2020 was much more polarized than in prior years. In this report, Robert Griffin and Mayesha Quasem detail key differences.
Karlyn Bowman and Samantha Goldstein examine survey findings that show key election takeaways from the perspectives of voters — including significant differences in the experiences and perceptions of voters by race and ethnicity, and political affiliation.
Bernard Fraga and Colin Fisk use Voter Study Group data to examine the relationships of individuals from opposing political parties and the impact it has on their perceptions in today's democratic landscape.
Relative to earlier outbreaks of the Ebola and Zika viruses, Americans are more concerned about COVID-19 and more dissatisfied with the government's response. Cindy Kam and John Sides analyze the latest Nationscape™ data to better understand the differences in public response, and how partisanship affects those differences.
Lee Drutman, Joe Goldman, Larry Diamond | June 2020
Lee Drutman, Joe Goldman and Larry Diamond revisit Americans' views on authoritarianism and democratic norms amidst a historically tumultuous election year.
Parrish Bergquist and Robert Griffin examine how Americans' views on global warming have changed in recent years, and analyze the shifts in perception by political party and age.
John Sides and Robert Griffin analyze candidate favorability among today’s voters in light of past voting behaviors to understand the dynamics of election 2020.
Lee Drutman offers insights into how the electorate has shifted since the 2016 presidential election and how voters cross pressured on the economy and immigration could impact the 2020 election.
Lee Drutman, Vanessa Williamson, Felicia Wong | June 2019
Analysis from Lee Drutman, Vanessa Williamson, and Felicia Wong surfaces that going into the 2020 elections, Republicans' views on economic policy are more split than Democrats'.
Robert Griffin gives an overview of how opinions have — or have not — changed during President Trump’s first two years in office and what voters are looking for in future candidates.
Robert Griffin and Joe Goldman analyze how Americans' perceptions surrounding the Russia investigation have changed or remained unaffected as Robert Mueller appears to be winding down his examination.
Felicia Wong takes a deep dive into Americans’ reactions to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and their views on tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
Patrick Ruffini analyzes Americans' attitudes toward immigration, finding deep divisions that cut across racial and ethnic lines, driven mainly by partisanship.
David Winston examines the differences between “elite” and “working class” Democrats — two major factions of the party’s most reliable voters — finding that these groups diverge widely on the issues they prioritize most, and that there is consensus on just one issue going into the 2018 midterm elections.
David Winston revisits the method of “issue prioritization cluster analysis” and confirms that organizing the electorate by how voters view issues, rather than their demographic attributes, can broaden the scope of political research.
Robert Griffin and John Sides dispute claims that Americans experiencing economic hardship are President Trump’s base by using a detailed set of questions that measure “economic distress” rather than general views about the economy.
Emily Ekins explores the effects of religious participation on Americans’ views on race, immigration, and identity — finding that religious voters are more supportive of diversity and immigration.
Lee Drutman, William A. Galston, Tod Lindberg | September 2018
Lee Drutman, William Galston, and Tod Lindberg explore the recent, unprecedented support for a third party, Americans’ dissatisfaction with current partisan representation, and why a multiparty system remains improbable.
Henry Olsen presents findings from the 2018 VOTER Survey and explores implications and potential paths to victory for both Republicans and Democrats in the upcoming elections.
John Sides and Dalia Mogahed analyze the wide gap between what most Americans say about Muslims living in the United States and how Muslim Americans see themselves.
Lee Drutman, Larry Diamond, Joe Goldman | June 2018
Building off "Follow the Leader," this brief by Lee Drutman, Larry Diamond, and Joe Goldman examines how the public thinks about the relationship between presidential authority and three specific checks on his power: the Congress, the courts, and the press.
Lee Drutman, Larry Diamond, Joe Goldman | March 2018
Lee Drutman, Larry Diamond, and Joe Goldman's report seeks to understand the degree to which Americans are open to departures from democracy, and the motivations behind endorsing authoritarian alternatives.
Robert Griffin’s report explores the recent increase in partisan switching and constructs a portrait of voters who changed their party affiliation in the 2016 presidential election.
David Winston’s report examines the electorate through the lens of issue priorities, providing keen insight into voter decision-making during the 2016 presidential election.
Robert Griffin's insights spotlight voter attitudes toward the new administration, the direction of the country, and other topics from Trump's first six months in office.
