Civil liberties remain a defining feature of American identity for most adults, even as a large share say key rights such as voting and free speech are facing growing threats in the current political environment shaped by domestic polarization and global instability.
A national survey conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 9 in 10 Americans consider the right to vote central to U.S. identity, alongside similar levels of importance placed on freedom of speech, while freedom of religion also ranked highly among respondents. The right to keep and bear arms was viewed as important by a smaller majority, reflecting deeper divisions on its place in national identity. Findings were released in a poll conducted in April 2026 among 2,596 adults, using a probability-based panel designed to represent the U.S. population.
At the same time, concerns over the security of these rights were widespread. Roughly two-thirds of respondents said voting rights are under threat, with about one-third describing that threat as major. Nearly half of those surveyed said freedom of speech is also under significant pressure, while smaller but notable shares pointed to concerns over religious freedom and gun rights. Only about one-third of Americans said voting rights face no threat at all.
The survey highlighted stark differences across political affiliation. Democrats were more likely to view free speech as under serious pressure, while Republicans were more likely to express concern about the right to bear arms. Independents generally fell between the two groups. These divisions reflect broader political disagreements over civil liberties that have been increasingly visible in legislative debates and Supreme Court rulings on voting regulations and federal authority.
Racial and generational differences also appeared in the findings. About three-quarters of Black Americans said voting rights are highly important to national identity, compared with about 9 in 10 white Americans. Black respondents were also among the most likely to say voting rights are under major threat, reflecting long-standing historical context around access to the ballot in the United States.
Younger adults showed lower levels of emphasis on voting and free speech as defining national characteristics compared with older age groups. Some respondents cited political disengagement and the influence of digital platforms as shaping their perceptions of civic participation, according to responses included in the survey reporting.
The results come during a period of heightened political attention on democratic institutions in the United States, with debates over election administration and voting access continuing in multiple states. International developments, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict, have also influenced global discussions about governance, civil rights, and institutional stability, adding context to domestic concerns about democratic safeguards.
Reuters has documented ongoing debates in the United States over election laws and democratic norms amid polarized political conditions. Analysis from the BBC has also tracked global comparisons in voter access and democratic participation as Western democracies face parallel pressures on electoral systems. Reporting from The New York Times has similarly examined domestic disputes over voting regulations and constitutional interpretation in recent years.
The survey also captured personal reflections from respondents, including concerns that civil liberties are becoming more fragile in a divided political climate. Some participants said they view the country's founding rights as stable in principle but increasingly contested in practice, particularly in relation to voting access and speech protections.
