The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research examined Americans’ opinions on democracy and rights in the United States.
A nationwide poll was conducted online and on the telephone from March 21-25, 2024, with over 1,200 respondents.
Key findings include:
1). 70% believe that democracy is a good system.
–However, half of adults surveyed believe that the United States is a “poorly functioning democracy,” and only 3 out of 10 believe it is “functioning well.”
2.)Most adults agree on the importance of rights and freedoms, with “the right to vote” (74%) and “the right to equal protection under the law” (70%) being ranked as the two most important.
3.) 64% of adults believe that “freedom of speech” is extremely important, while 49% believe “freedom of the press” is extremely important.
–68% of adults believe “freedom of speech” is crucial to the identity of the United States, while 60% felt the same about “freedom of the press.”
–Political affiliation did not significantly impact how respondents ranked “freedom of speech” or “freedom of the press” in terms of importance.
Read the original study here.
To learn more about how organizations can play a role in democracy by defending against election disinformation, read this new guide, “How Communicators Can Help Manage Disinformation in the Workplace,” from the Institute for Public Relations.
