49% Say Voters Do Not Actually Choose Their Representatives

Publication Date: 04/15/2026 5:00 AM CST

49% Say Voters Do Not Actually Choose Their Representatives

Publication: 04/15/2026 5:00 AM CST

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Redistricting is currently a hot topic ahead of the midterms in states like Utah, Virginia, Florida, and California.

Almost half (49%) of voters believe that the voters do not choose representatives in Congress, but they are chosen by the people who design the Congressional district maps.
- Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree.
- One quarter (24%) are not sure.
- Variations in voter opinions differed little among recorded demographics.
- Even Democrats and Republicans have similar opinions, with a majority of Democrats 54% and a strong plurality of Republicans (45%) agreeing that voters do not actually choose their representatives.
A majority (56%) of voters favor a proposal that would require the share of Republicans and Democrats elected in a state to closely match the share of votes cast for each party in the election.
- One in 5 (19%) Strongly Favor that proposal.
- Eighteen percent (18%) oppose the proposal.
- One quarter (25%) are not sure
- Majorities of Democrats (54%) and Republicans (63%) favor the proposal requiring the share of votes to match the share of elected officials.
- Of those who closely follow the news about redistricting, 69% favor the proposal.
- In August 2025, more voters (64%) favored the proposal, but more voters (23%) also opposed it. Fewer (13%) were not sure.
If we had a perfectly fair system of elections and the number of party representatives in Congress matched the share of votes for each party in the last election, 33% say there would be more Republicans in Congress than there are today.
- The same number (33%) say there would be more Democrats in Congress than there are today.
- Only 9% are optimistic about the current representation and say the numbers would be the same as they are today.
- As you might expect, 56% of Republicans say more Republicans would be in Congress, and 57% of Democrats say there would be more Democrats.
For further details, see 56% Oppose Redistricting Just to Gain Seats.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, April 6-7, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.