# Most Americans think U.S. democracy is weakening

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/democracy-and-a-sense-of-voice/
Published: 2026-10-23

> Featured topic in Politics.

62.8% of Americans say U.S. democracy is getting weaker, and 10.7% say stronger. Separately, 59.4% feel people like them have no say in government.

## Overview: Democracy feels weaker

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 62.8% say democracy in the U.S. is getting weaker, including 36.1% who say much weaker. Just 10.7% say it is getting stronger.

Separately, 59.4% agree that people like them don't have any say about what the government does.

## Weaker, not stronger

Somewhat weaker accounts for 26.7% and much weaker for 36.1%. On the other side, 7.3% say somewhat stronger and 3.4% much stronger.

Another 17.5% say democracy is about the same, and 9.0% aren't sure.

The question asks which way democracy is moving, not how democratic the country is today.

## Little sense of a say

Strong agreement accounts for 26.1%, and 33.3% agree somewhat.

Disagreement totals 20.5%, and 16.6% neither agree nor disagree.

## Two separate questions

The two results come from separate questions and do not show how many people gave both answers.

## Supporting evidence

### 62.8% of Americans say democracy in the U.S. is getting weaker, and 10.7% say stronger.

Question: Would you say democracy in the United States is becoming…

Topline:

- Much weaker: 36.1%
- Somewhat weaker: 26.7%
- About the same: 17.5%
- Don’t know or not sure: 9.0%
- Somewhat stronger: 7.3%

### 59.4% agree that people like them don't have any say about what the government does.

Question: People like me don’t have any say about what the government does.

Topline:

- Agree somewhat: 33.3%
- Agree strongly: 26.1%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 16.6%
- Disagree somewhat: 14.7%
- Disagree strongly: 5.8%

## 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: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.3%
- Module: Society, Culture, & Identity
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [Would you say democracy in the United States is becoming…](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-101): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People like me don’t have any say about what the government does.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-100): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-101](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-101)