New survey finds 12% of respondents are willing to sell their votes

In American Politics Research, Northwestern professor and political scientist Jordan Gans-Morse and his co-author conducted a survey that asked if Americans would ever sell their vote. The resulting report comes as many US citizens are concerned about the country’s future, due to rising political discord and extremism.

According to the abstract,

“Drawing on nationally representative survey data, we show that despite traditional portrayals of the U.S. as the embodiment of a democratic ‘civic culture,’ a substantial share of Americans express readiness to sell their votes for cash: 12% of respondents would do so for just $25, as would nearly 20% for $100.”

The surveys also showed that Americans with higher incomes and stronger political beliefs were less likely to sell their votes compared to others. The report concludes that democratic skepticism is significant, but more research is required to understand how average citizens feel about selling their vote.

Learn more about Gans-Morse’s findings in New IPR Research: February 2022. Read the full report here.