A new poll found that just 34 percent of U.S. adults trust government certifications of election results a great deal or quite a bit, down from 40 percent in 2024.

The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts from July 29 to August 10, 2026, among 1,036 adults, highlights broader skepticism toward federal government information on multiple issues as the midterm elections approach.

Election certification involves local and state officials confirming vote totals after ballots are counted. The process has faced increased scrutiny in recent years.

Democrats showed the sharpest decline in trust. Forty-four percent of Democrats now express high confidence in certifications, compared with 65 percent two years earlier. Republican trust stood at 29 percent, up only slightly from 2024.

Nearly half of adults said they are extremely or very concerned that the federal government might publicly discredit election results, tamper with them, or pressure state officials to alter certification procedures.

Trust in government information has dropped across topics since 2024. Confidence in data on inflation and the cost of living fell from 26 percent to 18 percent. Trust in information about health care declined from 26 percent to 16 percent, the environment from 21 percent to 12 percent, and jobs from 25 percent to 15 percent.

About six in 10 adults now say they have little or no trust in federal information on elections and politics, foreign affairs, the environment, abortion, and immigration. Low trust in education information rose to 53 percent.

The poll also found limited faith in political campaigns. Roughly 47 percent of adults said Democratic messages are rarely or never based on facts, while 53 percent said the same about Republican messages.

These results come as Americans prepare for the November midterms and reflect ongoing questions about the reliability of official sources.