Report · Politics

Democracy has broad support over the alternatives

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 7 to 13, 2023, 84% of Americans agreed that democracy has many problems but is better than other alternatives. Including 32% who strongly agree and 51% who agree.

About one in six disagreed (16%), with 12% who disagree and 4% who strongly disagree.

Topline

response scale

Topline scale

84% of Americans say democracy is better than other alternatives.

Democracy has many problems, but it is better than other alternatives.

  • Agree 51.1%
  • Strongly agree 32.4%
  • Disagree 12.1%
  • Strongly disagree 4.4%

2023 · base n 2,000 · +/- 2.3%

APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071

View source

Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2023-09-07 → 2023-09-13
Base (unweighted)
2,000
Margin of error
+/- 2.3%
Module
2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071

Source

  • 01
    Democracy has broad support over the alternativesreports.verasight.io/reports/2023-apsa-omnibus-survey-2023-071

Citation

2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071, fielded September 7-13, 2023, N=2,000 United States adults, +/- 2.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/2023-apsa-omnibus-survey-2023-071#please-rate-the-extent-to-which-you-agree-or-disagree-with-the-following-statement-democracy-has-many-problems-but-it-is-better-than-other-alternatives

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.