The recent presidential election had the entire world watching. Americans voted at the highest rate since 1900, and turnout among college students surged despite myriad obstacles.
While a strong majority of students supported Joe Biden, a new Chegg.org/College Pulse survey of 2,000 students from 116 colleges finds that less than half (41%) believe he can heal the country’s divisions. Only 4% believe he is extremely likely to heal the nation. Black students in particular are more likely to believe Biden can heal the divisions, with 44% saying it is somewhat likely and 10% saying it is extremely likely. In comparison, only 2% of white students, 3% of Asian students, and 4% of Latino students feel it is extremely likely that Biden can heal the country’s divisions.
“I hope that he’ll work hard to reunite Americans just like he’s claimed,” says Daniel A., a senior at American University. “I hope he’ll fulfill his promise to be a president for all Americans — not just those who voted for him. I feel like Joe Biden is what America needs right now to begin the process of healing.”
Less than Half of Students Feel Proud to be an American
Only 44% of students say they feel proud to be an American, with just 18% strongly agreeing with the sentiment. Students who identify as strong Republicans are significantly more likely than students who identify as strong Democrats to say they feel proud to be an American (92% vs. 22%); in contrast, 38% of Black students and 21% of Latinx students report that they do not feel proud to be American.
However, a majority (58%) of students say the United States is still a democracy. Following this election, Democratic students are slightly more likely than Replublican students to believe the U.S. is still a democratic nation (62% vs. 58%).
Male Students are Less Confident Kamala Harris Would be Prepared to Serve as President
While almost two-thirds (64%) of students overall believe Kamala Harris would be prepared to serve as president should Biden not be able to serve his full term, there is a stark gender gap. Roughly half (55%) of male students say Harris is prepared to serve as president, compared to 71% of female students.
Students’ Confidence in a Biden Administration is Split
Three-quarters (74%) of students who voted in this election cast their ballots for Biden and Harris, including 8% of students who identify as Republican. But results show that students are divided in their confidence that a Biden administration will address issues that are important to them. A slight majority (57%) of students are very or moderately confident Biden will address important issues, while 43% are not confident he can deliver. For students who identify racial inequality as their top concern, 70% are confident Biden can address the racial divide, while 55% of students whose top concern is gun policy in America are not at all confident Biden can address this issue.
A Third of Students Voted by Mail
A strong majority (83%) of students voted in the 2020 election. Of the 17% of students who did not vote, many cite that they didn’t like either of the candidates (15%) or their mail-in ballot never came (9%).
Among students who did vote, about one-third (34%) received and returned their ballots by mail. Moreover, only 2 in 10 (22%) students voted in person on Election Day. While the majority of students (68%) only traveled less than five miles to cast their ballots, 1 in 10 (12%) students had to travel more than 16 miles.
Strong Republicans are significantly more likely than strong Democrats to have cast their ballots in person on Election Day (42% vs. 15%) with less than 1 in 4 (24%) casting their ballots by mail. And Black students are almost twice as likely as Latinx students to have voted in person on Election Day (28% vs. 15%).
2 in 10 Republican Students Believe the 2020 Presidential Election was Free and Fair
Only 17% of Republican students feel as though the 2020 presidential election was free and fair. Students identifying as strong Republicans are even less likely to believe so (10%).
“The election is not close to being over. The results are not official,” says Tyler, a Doctor of Pharmacy student at Binghamton University. “I’m willing to concede the election if [Biden and Harris] are announced president and vice president but, for now, I believe that there is something worth holding onto in believing that the election is not over… I think it’s going to be a tough turbulent month or two, or even three, no matter what side you’re on.”
More than half (52%) of students overall believe the Electoral College system should be abolished and the president should win based on a majority of the national vote. Only about one-quarter (26%) do not think the system should be abolished. Although a majority of Republican students think the election was unfair, just 10% say the Electoral College should be abolished. By comparison, nearly three-quarters (74%) of Democrats believe the U.S. should abolish the Electoral College.
Half of Students Say the Military Should Step in if Donald Trump Refuses to Concede
Because President Trump has not yet conceded the election, many students wonder how he’ll leave office in January. Half (49%) of students believe the military should step in to guarantee the election result if President Trump refuses to concede and there’s no smooth transition of power. This sentiment changes across party lines, with a majority (61%) of strong Democrats saying the military should step in while just 19% of strong Republicans agree.
However, while students are content for the military to guarantee election results, they are less confident in the courts. Only 31% say the Supreme Court should have the ability to decide on election results, compared to 43% who disagree. Once again, this is strongly split down party lines, and Republican students are far more likely than Democratic students to say the Supreme Court should have the ability to decide on election results (67% vs. 17%).
Now students will wait to see how the election results play out in the White House.
