# Protecting their own rights is the top reason Americans get involved in politics

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/protecting-their-own-rights-is-the-top-reason-americans-get-involved-in-politics/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from September 25 to 30, 2026. 43.9% of Americans say defending their own rights is their main reason to take part in politics, ahead of patriotic duty (26.3%) and defending their community's rights (22.6%).

Defending other groups motivates 7.1%. Respondents chose a single main reason for taking part in politics.

## Topline

When it comes to participating in politics, which would you say is your main motivation to participate?

Protecting their own rights is the top reason Americans get involved in politics.

- Defend my own rights: 43.9%
- Fulfill my patriotic duty: 26.3%
- Defend my community’s rights: 22.6%
- Defend other groups: 7.1%

## 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: +/- 3.5%
- Module: Democracy, Politics, & Participation
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-2](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-2)

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-2](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-2)