According to a recent survey, close to seven-in-ten voters in the U.S. advocate the postponement of state primary elections amid the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2) pandemic taking a dire toll on the nation.
Released by Pew Research Center, the survey included 64% of Republican registered voters and 71% of Democratic voters from the total number of adult participants in the study, initiated between March 19-24, 2020.
As part of the study, researchers also gathered responses on whether voters would feel comfortable visiting a polling place to cast their vote during the primary elections.
Based on the results, the majority of the respondents of both political parties expressed enmity toward the idea of traveling to a polling place to cast their ballot amid a nationwide pandemic.
68% of Democrats and independents would not feel comfortable traveling to the polls for the primary elections, while 58% of Republican respondents shared similar views, the survey determined.
“About three-quarters of Democratic voters living in states where the presidential primary had been delayed as of the survey period say postponement was necessary,” the survey’s co-authors stated. “A somewhat narrower majority of Democrats in states that already conducted their primaries (68%) say this.”
Among the participants, the younger age group were more likely to express discomfort visiting a polling place to cast their ballot, with women making up the majority. In addition, Hispanic voters were also more likely to synchronize with the notion that casting a ballot in person would be not such a good idea.
“There are only modest differences among voters in their comfort level with going to a polling place,” the survey says.
“Large shares of white, black and Hispanic voters express discomfort with the idea of casting a ballot in person, but Hispanic voters are the most likely to say they would be uncomfortable (72% vs. 62% of black and white voters).”
