Donald Trump’s warnings about a rigged election seem to be resonating with First State voters.
University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communications conducted a survey among 900 registered First State voters last month and found more than 60 percent of people polled are at least somewhat concerned about a rigged election.
“Back when we did the poll Trump was saying it could be rigged. Now he’s saying there’s a conspiracy to rig the election,” said Paul Brewer, director of UD's Center for Political Communications.
Trump supporters are more likely to say they’re worried about a rigged election than Clinton supporters, according to Brewer. But he adds that concerns about the election’s legitimacy may also reflect a deeper bipartisan distrust of government.
“We asked people how much of the time can you trust the government in Washington to do what is right and only 2 percent said just about always and only 15 percent said most of the time,” Brewer said.
More than 80 percent of people said they trust Washington never or only some of the time.
The poll also show the state’s electorate leaning somewhat liberal this election cycle.
61 percent of people polled favor legalizing marijuana and 59 percent favor increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. A small majority also approves President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
The death penalty was one exception, however. 55 percent of registered voters said they support the death penalty in cases of murder.
Crime and jobs tied as the top two concerns among those polled.
