A fresh survey from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that a solid majority of Americans perceive core constitutional liberties—including the right to vote—as under some level of jeopardy. The poll, conducted April 16–20 among 2,596 adults, captures a nation grappling with deep anxieties about the durability of its democratic foundations.
According to the data, 66 percent of respondents said the right to vote is either facing a “major threat” or “minor threat” in the United States. Only 33 percent saw no threat at all. The finding lands as the country approaches its 250th anniversary next month, a milestone that typically sparks celebrations of American freedoms but now arrives amid widespread unease.
Concerns extend well beyond the ballot box. The poll found that 78 percent of Americans view freedom of speech as threatened—either a major or minor concern—while just 20 percent said it faces no threat. Similarly, 69 percent said the right to keep and bear arms is under some form of threat, with 30 percent disagreeing. And 68 percent of respondents reported that freedom of religion is imperiled, compared to 31 percent who saw no threat.
The survey’s margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, lending statistical weight to the sense that a broad cross-section of the electorate feels its constitutional safeguards are fraying. The results come as political battles over election integrity, free expression on campus and online, gun regulation, and religious liberty continue to roil statehouses and federal courts alike.
Notably, the AP-NORC findings echo a separate PRRI poll released in April, which documented a sharp decline in national pride. In June 2013, 81 percent of Americans said they were “extremely proud” or “very proud” to be American; by April of this year, that figure had dropped to 51 percent. The parallel data points suggest a broader erosion of faith in American institutions and identity.
The timing of the poll’s release—just weeks before the July 4th anniversary—adds an ironic backdrop. While many communities will mark the nation’s 250th birthday with parades and fireworks, the survey indicates that a significant portion of the public believes the very liberties commemorated are in retreat. Political analysts caution that such perceptions could influence turnout and party loyalty in upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, related controversies continue to simmer. In Missouri, the state attorney general has threatened an MLB probe over San Francisco Giants players displaying Bible verses on Pride caps, raising free speech and religious liberty questions. The Missouri AG's threat to investigate the Giants underscores how cultural flashpoints intersect with constitutional debates. At the federal level, former President Trump has warned that the Iran deal is provisional and threatened renewed bombing, a stance that has drawn backlash from G7 allies. The Trump administration's defense of the Iran MOU as temporary highlights ongoing tensions over executive power and international commitments.
The AP-NORC poll did not break down responses by party affiliation, but previous surveys have shown that perceptions of threat to civil liberties often diverge along partisan lines. For instance, Republicans and gun rights advocates are more likely to see the Second Amendment as endangered, while Democrats and voting rights groups emphasize threats to the franchise. The broad consensus across multiple rights in this poll, however, suggests a shared anxiety that transcends party.
As the 250th anniversary approaches, the data poses a challenge to leaders of both parties: how to reassure a skeptical public that the constitutional framework remains resilient. For now, the numbers indicate that many Americans are not convinced.
