47% of Voters Feel They Voted for “Lesser of Two Evils” in 2024 Elections
December 9, 2024 – A newly released poll finds that 47% of American voters feel they voted for the lesser of two evils in at least one election on their ballot in 2024. The question was included in a Citizen Data national poll of 1,000 registered voters in November.
“Americans want more choices at the ballot box, but they’re afraid of wasting their vote on a candidate who can’t win or supporting a potential ‘spoiler.’ Ranked choice voting solves these problems,” said Deb Otis, Director of Research and Policy at FairVote, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for better elections. “Ranked choice voting lets Americans vote honestly – if their favorite candidate can’t win, their vote simply counts for a backup choice. More candidates can run, voters get more choices, and candidates need a majority to win. No more lesser of two evils.”
The poll finds that younger voters are the most likely to say they voted for the lesser of two evils in the 2024 elections, with 50% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennials saying they did so. Black (49%) and Asian American (54%) voters are the most likely of any racial group to feel they voted for a lesser evil. At least 40% of voters across all demographic groups feel they voted for a lesser evil this year.
Since 2016, ranked choice voting has grown from just 10 cities to over 50 cities, counties, and states home to 17 million people. This Election Day, nearly 4 million voters cast ballots to bring ranked choice voting to their city or state, and it won majority support in all five cities where it was on the ballot.
The poll was conducted from November 14-18. The poll question and methodology are available here.
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FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.
