Most Americans feel a duty to vote
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 56.2% always feel a civic duty to vote, whatever the election. Another 19.7% sometimes do, depending on the election.
Separately, 58.5% disagree that it is better not to vote than to settle for the lesser of two evils. Just 14.9% agree.
A duty for most
Some 24.2% never feel a duty to vote and see voting as a personal choice.
The question asks how people think about voting, not whether they vote.
Topline
56.2% of Americans always feel a civic duty to vote, and 19.7% sometimes do.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Settling beats sitting out
Strong disagreement with sitting out accounts for 43.5%, and 15.0% somewhat disagree. Another 26.6% neither agree nor disagree.
Strong agreement that not voting is better accounts for 5.3%.
Topline
58.5% disagree that it is better not to vote than to settle for the lesser of two evils.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Two separate questions
The two questions were asked separately, so the results do not show how many people gave both answers.
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 | Sep 25–30, 2026 |
| 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 |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
Which of the following statements best describes your thoughts of voting as a duty?
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better not to vote than to settle for the lesser of two evils.
Cite this topic
APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.