Election fears run rampant as November nears: poll

Americans fear November's midterms could be stolen or otherwise compromised, with most worried about political pressure to change results or officials mishandling ballots, new Gallup polling finds.

Why it matters: President Trump has cast the American election system as under siege and vulnerable with unfounded claims about his 2020 loss. Meanwhile, his critics warn his push to reshape the ways Americans vote are undermining elections.

By the numbers: Republicans (56%) and Democrats (77%) alike fear politicians will pressure election officials to change the outcomes of races.

• 80% report a great deal or fair amount of concern that political leaders will take actions they know are possibly illegal.
• Nearly eight in 10 also worry about wealthy people or organizations making large, anonymous political donations (78%) or about gerrymandering (77%), as redistricting has reshaped the upcoming midterm elections.

Zoom in: Some fears are personal: 40% say they're concerned about being confronted, followed or recorded while voting.

• And the anxiety is rampant: Nearly three-quarters (73%) report at least a fair amount of concern about multiple aspects of the election process, rather than just one fear.

The bottom line: In an election year that's sure to divide the already politically fractured country, Americans can at least agree on one thing: They're worried about their vote being safe.

Go deeper: Trump hits a wall on voter fraud