Pennsylvania voters tend to trust local election results more than national ones, with confidence in voting systems split along party lines, according to a new Spotlight PA poll.
Experts were encouraged by the poll’s finding that voter confidence is highest at the county level, where elections are primarily managed in Pennsylvania.
The poll asked likely voters about their confidence in the accuracy of 2024 election results at national, statewide, and county levels. About 63% were confident in the national vote count for president, 64% trusted statewide results, and confidence rose to 78% for their own county’s results.
Conducted by the MassINC Polling Group between Sept. 12 and 18, the survey highlights the key role county officials play in elections. County authorities manage polling logistics, print ballots, test and secure voting machines, and oversee vote counting.
“It’s great to see overwhelming confidence for the election,” said Kyle Miller, a policy advocate with Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan group. He noted the jump to 78% confidence in county elections shows people trust their local governments, even in a polarized environment.
This trend mirrors attitudes about Congress: while national institutions are viewed with skepticism, local representatives are often seen more favorably. A Pew Research Center poll found only 26% of people had a favorable opinion of Congress, while 41% held a positive view of their own House representative.
However, the Spotlight PA poll revealed stark partisan differences. Roughly 80% of Democrats were confident in election results at all levels, while only 12% of Republicans trusted national results and 13% trusted statewide outcomes. Among Republicans who favor Donald Trump, confidence in the national and state election results was similarly low, influenced by Trump’s false claims of widespread election fraud.
Despite this, Republican confidence jumped to 28% when asked about county election results, reflecting a growing trust in local systems, often affirmed by Republican county leaders.
Republican leaders in counties like Washington County have expressed confidence in their local election systems but raised doubts about larger urban areas, such as Philadelphia and Allegheny County, where they claim fraud took place.
Miller believes ongoing efforts by former Republican officials to educate voters on how elections work could improve trust. Organizations like Keep Our Republic, which includes former Republican governors, are working to bolster understanding and confidence in the process.
Learning about the process helps people build trust, Miller said. He noted that those who volunteer as poll workers often gain a deeper appreciation for the security of the system.
Lisa Schaefer, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said election directors are dedicated to ensuring a fair and accurate process. “All the election directors I’ve ever talked with take their responsibility very seriously,” she said.
To build trust, counties are increasing transparency by attending community events, livestreaming election operations, and creating video explainers. The Pennsylvania Department of State has also been active, with Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt holding public forums to answer questions about election processes.
At a recent event in Gettysburg, Schmidt addressed concerns about what would happen if a county refused to certify election results, assuring that the department would seek a court order to enforce the law.
Matt Heckel, a spokesperson for the Department of State, said it was encouraging to see voters express confidence in their local election officials. He encouraged Pennsylvanians to become poll workers to gain firsthand knowledge of the process.
Lauren Cristella, president of the Committee of Seventy, said the poll results show local election officials can be trusted messengers within their communities. She believes that educating the public about how votes are counted and how elections are run can further reduce concerns about fraud at all levels.
It’s up to all of us to help explain the process across every county,” Cristella said, emphasizing the importance of building understanding statewide.