• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

More Than Half of U.S. Voters Think the Presidential Primaries Are ‘Rigged’

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 27, 2016, 3:44 PM ET
Donald Trump (left) and Bernie Sanders
Donald Trump (left) and Bernie SandersPhotographs by Mike Stone and Jay Paul--Reuters

GOP frontrunner Donald Trump isn’t the only American who thinks the country’s election process isn’t on the level.

More than half of U.S. voters said they think the country’s current voting system for presidential primaries and caucuses is “rigged” against certain candidates, according to a new poll from Reuters and research company Ipsos, the results of which were published on Wednesday.

Reuters said that roughly 51% of likely voters who responded to the poll between April 21 and April 26 agreed that the presidential nomination process is “rigged,” while more than a quarter of respondents said they don’t understand how the primary process works.

Those polling results suggest that it’s a lot more than just foil-hat-wearing cranks who think the fix is in with regard to presidential nominations. The poll also sheds some light on why candidates like the billionaire and former reality TV star Trump and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders—each of whom has questioned the validity of the nomination process—are resonating with voters who claim to be wary of so-called establishment politicians.

[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/fortune/is-the-presidential-primary-process-rigged”]

 

Those candidates’ attacks on the country’s political system have been met with enthusiasm from voters, many of whom also feel that the current setup means their votes count for less than they should. According to Reuters, about 71% of respondents to the recent poll said they would prefer to have a direct vote decide their party’s nominee, as opposed to using delegates as is the case with the current system.

 

Both Sanders and Trump have been especially critical of the role of delegates in the electoral process, with Trump complaining about the number of delegates awarded to his rivals in states where he won the popular vote. Sanders and his backers, meanwhile, have taken aim at the Democratic party’s use of “superdelegates,” party insiders who can swing their support to any candidate they like, regardless of popular voting results. In the current Democratic primary, Sanders trails frontrunner Hillary Clinton by a wide margin in terms of superdelegates, with only 39 compared to her 519.

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

jesse jackson
PoliticsObituary
Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and historic presidential candidate, dies at 84
By Sophia Tareen, Nick Lichtenberg and The Associated PressFebruary 17, 2026
5 minutes ago
Future of Workqualtrics
For success in AI, avoid the ‘efficiency trap’— and focus on trust instead
By Brad AndersonFebruary 17, 2026
1 hour ago
Successthe future of work
As boomer and Gen X bosses retire, working from home will make a major comeback, new research predicts
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 17, 2026
2 hours ago
NewslettersCEO Daily
New U.S. legislation could upend credit card loyalty programs: The Points Guy founder calls the reckoning un-American
By Diane BradyFebruary 17, 2026
6 hours ago
CommentaryEducation
AI could spark a new age of learning, but only if governments, tech firms and educators work together
By José Manuel Barroso and Stephen HodgesFebruary 17, 2026
10 hours ago
cafe
Arts & EntertainmentTariffs and trade
Americans’ new tariff coffee math means ditching the Starbucks, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ runs
By Matt Sedensky and The Associated PressFebruary 16, 2026
23 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Social Security's trust fund is nearing insolvency, and the borrowing binge that may follow will rip through debt markets, economist warns
By Jason MaFebruary 15, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Future of Work
Malcolm Gladwell tells young people if they want a STEM degree, 'don’t go to Harvard.' You may end up at the bottom of your class and drop out
By Sasha RogelbergFebruary 14, 2026
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Real Estate
A billionaire and an A-list actor found refuge in a 37-home Florida neighborhood with armed guards—proof that privacy is now the ultimate luxury
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezFebruary 15, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Blackstone mogul warned of 'urgent need' for AI preparedness—Now he’s turning his $48 billion fortune into a top philanthropic foundation
By Sydney LakeFebruary 16, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Trillion-dollar AI market wipeout happened because investors banked that 'almost every tech company would come out a winner'
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 16, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
Something big is happening in AI — and most people will be blindsided
By Matt ShumerFebruary 11, 2026
6 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.