Survey shows Texas voters' divided views on election integrity

A recent survey by the Hobby School for Public Affairs at the University of Houston has revealed mixed sentiments among Texas voters regarding election integrity. While two-thirds express confidence in the fairness and accuracy of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, many harbor concerns about potential fraud, accurate mail ballot counting, non-citizen voting, and other electoral threats.

The survey highlights that approximately 75% of Texans believe the losing candidate in the presidential race should accept the results and concede. This sentiment is shared by 95% of Democrats but only slightly more than half of Republicans at 52%.

Renée Cross, a researcher and senior executive director at the Hobby School, noted that "Texas voters feel more confident that elections in Texas and in their home counties will be conducted fairly," with confidence levels varying by political affiliation. For state elections, 92% of Republicans express confidence compared to 77% of Democrats.

In contrast, confidence in national elections shows a partisan divide: 69% overall express trust in a fair process, including 95% of Democrats but only 45% of Republicans.

Mark P. Jones from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy highlighted broad agreement on certain threats to democracy. He stated, “Nine out of 10 voters agree the influence of money in politics poses a threat to democracy.”

The survey also reveals differing opinions on whether non-citizens will be allowed to vote. While 56% are confident this will not happen, belief varies significantly across demographics and political lines.

Confidence in mail-in voting accuracy stands at 57%, with higher trust among Black voters (74%) compared to white voters (55%). Concerns about voter suppression and electoral fraud also differ across groups, with Republicans more likely to see fraud as a major issue nationwide.

Additional findings show strong support for requiring voter ID and moderate support for online registration and no-excuse mail voting. The full report is accessible on the Hobby School's website.