SC residents split on whether 2020 election was ‘fair,’ new Winthrop Poll says
South Carolinians are split on whether the 2020 presidential election was fair and accurate despite that no widespread voter fraud was found, including in the Palmetto State, according to a new poll released Wednesday by Winthrop University.
The Winthrop Poll’s survey of the general population found that 47% of respondents said the 2020 presidential election was fair and 45% said it wasn’t. The poll had a margin of error of 3.4%.
The split was along party lines.
Eighty-five percent of Democratic respondents said the election of President Joe Biden was fair, while 77% of Republicans said it wasn’t.
“Belief, or at least desire to publicly express belief, in the premise that the outcome of the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent remains a major partisan point of division,” Winthrop Poll Director Scott Huffmon said. “While no widespread fraud was found, it remains a touchstone of Republican identity in South Carolina to vocally express doubt.”
The poll surveyed 817 South Carolinians by phone from April 2-24, and asked about the 2020 presidential election, whether South Carolinians approved of Gov. Henry McMaster’s job performance and polled their support of Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Though no statewide fraud was found in South Carolina’s 2020 presidential election, and Trump won the state, the GOP-controlled Legislature passed election-related measures this year to curtail fraud and enhance election security.
McMaster this month signed the two-week early-voting bill into law that also enhances penalties for voter fraud, expands election audits, institutes more voter roll maintenance, establishes a voter fraud hotline and bans third-party funding of elections.
The legislation received widespread bipartisan support in the state Legislature.
South Carolinians approve of McMaster’s job performance
McMaster faces reelection in November, and, so far, South Carolinians approve of how he’s handled his first term.
The poll found 55% of those surveyed said they approve of his job performance.
Among those surveyed who identify as Republicans, more than 80% said they approve of McMaster’s job performance, and 88% of Democrats said they do not.
McMaster faces one primary challenger on June 14, but is expected to win against the long shot candidate.
In November, he is likely to face former Congressman Joe Cunningham or state Sen. Mia McLeod, D-Richland.
The poll did not ask about Cunningham or McLeod.
SC Republicans overwhelmingly back Trump, Haley
A majority of respondents in the poll say they approve of Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott’s job performance, and support Trump and former Gov. Nikki Haley.
Here’s what the Winthrop Poll found:
▪ A 32% job approval rating for Biden
▪ A 58% disapproval rating among the general public, but a 65% approval rating among Republicans for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
▪ A 66% approval rating among the general public, and an 89% approval rating among Republicans for Scott, R-.S.C.
▪ A 63% favorable rating for Haley, a former Trump administration official, while 53% of Democrats viewed her unfavorably. She remains popular with Republicans with a favorable rating of 82%. Haley is a possible 2024 presidential contender, who has said previously she will not run if Trump runs again
▪ A 53% favorable rating among respondents, including 89% of Republicans for Trump
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 11:05 AM with the headline "SC residents split on whether 2020 election was ‘fair,’ new Winthrop Poll says."
