杏吧pro Stories
杏吧pro Poll: Voters Dissatisfied with How Democracy is Working
Sixty-four percent of Pennsylvania voters are more dissatisfied with how American democracy is working today while 35% are satisfied, according to the Oct. 9 Franklin & Marshall College Poll.
Several of the poll questions about regulating artificial intelligence (AI), political party satisfaction and democracy were developed by students in Government Professor Stephen Medvic鈥檚 senior seminar class.
鈥淭hey had a long list of questions, which we then pared down,鈥� said Berwood Yost, director of the 杏吧pro Poll.
Along partisan lines, 62% of Republicans are more satisfied while 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents report being dissatisfied with how democracy is working. In April 2024, 58% of Democrats were satisfied while 70% of Republicans and 64% of independents were dissatisfied.
But large majorities of voters are committed to specific democratic principles.
According to the poll, most voters, 97%, believe in the rule of law 鈥� the presumption of innocence in civil and criminal trials 鈥� while 92% support the exercise of free speech, and 91% believe that all citizens deserve an equal say in government.
鈥淚 think Americans are generally committed to the notion of independence and liberty,鈥� Yost said.
Most voters, 79%, believe the federal government should regulate AI.
Dive .
Conducted between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5 by the Center for Opinion Research, the poll recorded responses from 929 registered Pennsylvania voters including 399 Democrats, 390 Republicans and 140 independents. The sample error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Related Articles
May 6, 2026
鈥楩&M Will Change How You See the World,鈥� Senior Says
For Anna Purchase 鈥�26, Franklin & Marshall did more than provide an education. It shaped her worldview. 鈥淵ou get four years to try and enter in as a different person and rebuild the way you see the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淔&M is going to change how you see the world, but you have a say in that.鈥�
April 17, 2026
鈥楾his is What Community Feels Like鈥�
At the Writers House, Veronique Messanh 鈥�26 found more than a job鈥攕he found a home. 鈥淚 remember thinking: 鈥楾his is what community feels like,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 will forever be grateful for having a community that sees me, hears me, and encourages me!鈥�
March 31, 2026
Thomas Reilly 鈥�27 Leads Campus-Community Effort to Support Childhood Cancer Research
Thomas Reilly 鈥�27 has made volunteer work and community service a central part of his F&M experience鈥攁nd recently helped organize an event that raised $30,000 for childhood cancer research. The government major from Haddonfield, N.J. is part of the F&M chapter of St. Baldrick鈥檚, a foundation that raises money to fund research into childhood cancer treatment.