# Most Americans feel a duty to vote

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/voting-duty-and-imperfect-candidates/
Published: 2026-10-23

> Featured topic in Politics.

56.2% of Americans always feel a duty to vote, whatever the election or candidates. Separately, 58.5% reject the idea that not voting beats settling for the lesser of two evils.

## Overview: Voting as a duty

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.

## 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%.

## Two separate questions

The two questions were asked separately, so the results do not show how many people gave both answers.

## Supporting evidence

### 56.2% of Americans always feel a civic duty to vote, and 19.7% sometimes do.

Question: Which of the following statements best describes your thoughts of voting as a duty?

Topline:

- I always feel a sense of civic duty to vote regardless of the election, candidates, issues, or parties.: 56.2%
- I never feel a sense of civic duty to vote and instead view voting in elections as a choice.: 24.2%
- I sometimes feel a sense of civic duty to vote depending on the election, candidates, issues, or parties.: 19.7%

### 58.5% disagree that it is better not to vote than to settle for the lesser of two evils.

Question: It is better not to vote than to settle for the lesser of two evils.

Topline:

- Strongly disagree: 43.5%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 26.6%
- Somewhat disagree: 15.0%
- Somewhat agree: 9.7%
- Strongly agree: 5.3%

## 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

## Sources

- [Which of the following statements best describes your thoughts of voting as a duty?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-38): 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.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-37): 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+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-38](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-38)