The CBS News-YouGov poll found that 62 percent of respondents said they think there will be violence over losing, while just 38 percent said they believe the losing side will concede peacefully in future elections. The poll surveyed 2,063 adults from December 27 to 30 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points.
The poll also surveyed respondents about whether they would personally support violence in a future election. Seventy-two percent said they would not, while only 2 percent said they would. But 25 percent said “it depends on the circumstance.”
When broken down by party, 3 percent of Democrats and 2 percent of Republicans said they would support violence. Eighty-two percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans said they would not. Fifteen percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans say they might, depending on the circumstances.
The poll comes just days before the first anniversary of the violent January 6 riot, when a mob of Trump supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
The rioters believed claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump through widespread voter fraud. No credible evidence has been presented to back up these claims.
During the riot, many of the participants grew violent, attacking police officers and ravaging Congress’ chamber. One rioter was shot dead by officers.
Some of the rioters injured D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone. While he and others held off rioters at an entrance, the attackers used a stun gun on him, beat him with a flagpole and dragged him down stairs. He was knocked unconscious and suffered a heart attack.
Many members of Congress said they feared for their life during the riot.
Several rioters have since faced charges for their role. One rioter, Ryan Nichols, allegedly called for violence during the riot. In a video played by prosecutors during a hearing, he said: “I’ve seen the last of you treasonous bastard politicians. Give me liberty or give me death. I’m prepared to f*** die for this. I took an oath against all enemies foreign or domestic. But I plan to have others die first.”
An ABC/Ispos poll released Sunday also found that more than half of Republicans believed the rioters were “protecting democracy.”
Another poll released Saturday also found that fewer than half of Americans are confident that GOP state officials would accept election results in future elections their party loses.
