Americans worried about foreign election interference

The majority of U.S. residents, around 59 percent, are “extremely” or “somewhat” concerned about potential election interference by a foreign government this year, poll results released Friday found.

A survey conducted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that respondents were most concerned about foreign governments conducting influence campaigns to sway public opinion on candidates.

Respondents also cited concerns around the potential for hack and leak operations against political campaigns, and that voting infrastructure could be targeted.

The poll found that Democrats were more than twice as likely as Republicans to be concerned about foreign interference, and that less than half of Republicans believed that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, compared to 90 percent of Democrats.

The survey was conducted over four days in September, with more than 1,000 U.S. adults in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., participating.

The poll was conducted less than two months before Election Day, and as concerns over foreign interference have ramped up.