Abstract

As we reflect on another election held in the United States this month, some may wonder: How much do Americans actually know about politics? An informed citizenry has long been considered essential for elections to fulfill democratic accountability, through which voters reward well-performing politicians and parties, and punish those who perform poorly. Political knowledge plays a central role in this process, enabling citizens to evaluate their leaders and make informed vote choices.

The findings from Wave 9 of WCS reveal that political knowledge among Americans varies across different types of facts, individual characteristics such as age and partisanship, and where people live. Younger Americans, those without partisan affiliations, and those living in less electorally competitive states tend to be less informed about U.S. politics. These differences may have important implications for democracy, as individuals with greater political knowledge tend to be more confident in election outcomes and less supportive of actions that prioritize partisan interests over democratic norms.

Author's Department

Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy

Author's School

Arts & Sciences

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

11-13-2026

Language

English (en)

Report Number

Report No. 5

Author's ORCID

Hwayong Shin, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1639-5444

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