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 The current 45 percentage points that separate Republicans' (40%) and Democrats' (85%) confidence represents the largest gap Gallup has recorded on this measure since 2004. The prior high was 32 points in 2020.

Bottom Line

Confidence in the accuracy of elections is a key element of a successful democracy, and most Americans have shared a sense of trust in the process over Gallup's nearly two decades of measurement.

But beneath the national average, a partisan gulf has widened. Republicans are more skeptical than confident about the process leading up to this year's midterm elections, as they were in the last presidential election -- with that skepticism being a motivating factor for those who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. Confidence in elections has not improved among this party group since, although Republican gains in the upcoming midterms could help restore it.

Meanwhile, Democrats are matching historical levels of confidence among their party group ahead ofMost say they think COVID-19 infections will increase "a great deal" (15%) or "a moderate amount" (47%) in the fall and winter months. While the combined 62% who say infections will increase is down slightly from 66% in July, the percentage who believe infections will increase "a great deal" is down more significantly -- by eight percentage points -- from 23% in July.

The same poll finds the smallest percentages of Americans yet reporting they are steering clear of specific situations because of the coronavirus, including avoiding large crowds (24%), avoiding travel by plane or public transportation (19%), avoiding going to public places (16%) and avoiding small gatherings (13%).

Use of face masks remains fairly common, but the 40% saying they have worn one in the past week when outside their home is also a new low during the pandemic.

More Americans Are Forgoing Social Distancing

About six in 10 Americans (59%) say they have made no attempt to isolate themselves from people outside their household in the past 24 hours -- the most eschewing social distancing since the beginning of the pandemic.

Sixteen percent, similar to the level in April, now say they have completely or mostly isolated themselves from people outside their household, while 25% -- the lowest reading since April 2020 -- say they have isolated themselves partially or a little.