We asked voters what they think about when they hear “threats to Democracy.” We asked who they blame and when they feel these threats started. We asked how afraid they are and if they believe the threats are fixable. We asked who they trust to solve the threats and what action they are looking for to solve them. We even asked if they believe fighting and violence is necessary to protect our democracy.
The results were fascinating and, in some cases, a little scary. We came into this effort with key questions that were answered, questions like:
Is “threats to democracy” just code for “I’m hyper partisan and I hate the other side?”
Is this about the hatred/love of one individual (Trump or Biden)?
Has fear-mongering worked, and are people concerned about this issue the subset that has been made to feel the most afraid?
Do these people truly care about the future of the country or is this just politics for them?
Can these people be nailed down on a single issue or is it all about feelings for them?
Are these people capable of or willing to change their minds on anything or are they unpersuadable?
Is there separation between those who believe we must "fight to protect our democracy" and those who view these individuals in a negative light for being violent and/or extreme?