Why ‘Democratic Neutrality’ Is An Overlooked Threat To American Democracy
Researchers identify 'democratic neutrality'—a state of indifference toward antidemocratic practices—as a significant threat to American democracy. The study suggests that a large portion of the electorate neither supports nor opposes actions that undermine democratic norms.
Why it matters
Understanding voter apathy toward democratic erosion is crucial for addressing the success of politicians who challenge institutional norms.
In recent years, a growing number of elected officials have questioned or outright denied the results of elections, sought to undermine freedom of speech, and attempted to bend electoral rules to benefit themselves.
Only a sliver of Americans say they support these kinds of antidemocratic actions. For example, just 8% of Americans support making it harder for their political opponents to vote.
So how do politicians who espouse antidemocratic views continue to win elections if these policies are so unpopular?
As scholars affiliated with the Rooney Democracy Institute at the University of Notre Dame, we analysed surveys of over 48,000 Americans conducted by YouGov, NORC at the University of Chicago and Bovitz between September 2022 and July 2025 to try to get an answer.
A key finding emerged: A significant swath of Americans were actually indifferent toward antidemocratic practices.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in