A slim majority put protecting democratic rights over fighting crime
Core finding
We asked Americans what should come first for the country when protecting democratic rights and keeping the country safe pull in opposite directions. In a Verasight survey conducted July 14-24, 2025, 52% say the U.S. should focus first on protecting democratic rights, even if that means being less able to prevent crime.
The other 48% put safety first, accepting that some democratic freedoms might have to be limited.
Topline distribution
A slim majority put protecting democratic rights over fighting crime.
Which of the following, in your opinion, should be the highest priority for the U.S.?
n = 1,000 · Jul 14–24, 2025 · MoE ±3.1%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Jul 14–24, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | EPOVB Conference Omnibus Survey #2025-059 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-epovb.tiiny.co
Which of the following, in your opinion, should be the highest priority for the U.S.?
Cite this question
EPOVB Conference Omnibus Survey #2025-059, fielded July 14-24, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.