Public Opinion

APSR — pp. 1-24 2026-05-14 Original Attitudes Toward Electoral System Reform and Party System Change in the U.S. QUINTON MAYNE, SHANE P. SINGH Abstract Electoral reform efforts in the United States are widespread, yet little is known about how Americans evaluate alternative electoral systems or their consequences. We address this gap using conjoint and vignette experiments to study how Americans assess electoral reforms based on their implications for the number of parties and the degree of ideological polarization in the U.S. House of Representatives. Focusing on democratic voice, governability, and responsiveness, our designs emphasize party-system outcomes rather than technical institutional features that may be difficult for citizens to understand. We find that Americans are strongly averse to reforms that generate pronounced legislative polarization, even when it might be expected to enhance democratic voice. Findings pertaining to multipartism are more mixed, with some evidence that respondents respond positively to moderate departures from the two-party system. Perceived gains in voice and responsiveness do not generally compensate for losses in governability, except under arrangements that avoid polarization.

JOP — pp. 000-000 2026-05-04 Original Who Benefits? How Gender Shapes the Perceived Deservingness of Welfare Claimants Dot Sawler Abstract （原文未提供摘要） 中文 谁受益？性别如何塑造对福利申领者应得性的认知 Dot Sawler 摘要 原文未提供摘要 关键词 性别、福利申领者、应得性、福利态度、公众舆论、社会政策 DOI: 10.1086/736802 查看原文 →

JOP — 2026-04-28 Original Propaganda of Democratic Flaws and Its Impact on Regime Evaluations in Autocracies Rex Weiye Deng Abstract （原文未提供摘要） 中文 民主缺陷的宣传及其对威权政体中政权评价的影响 Rex Weiye Deng 摘要 原文未提供摘要 关键词 威权主义、政治宣传、政权评价、民主缺陷、政治合法性、公众舆论

AJPS — 2026-04-26 Original Experience and self‐interest: Diverging responses to global warming

PAR — 2026-04-21 Original When Do Citizens Support Corrupt Politicians? The Trade‐Offs Between Corruption and Competence

PSJ — 2026-04-17 Original Public Nuclear Preferences in the United States in the Context of Climate Change: Exploring Inter‐ and Intra‐Group Variations

APSR — pp. 1-13 2026-04-13 Original Reassessing Gendered Reactions to Terrorist Attacks: Slumps or Bumps? YUSAKU HORIUCHI, MARTHA C. JOHNSON Abstract In a recent article published in this journal, Holman, Merolla, and Zechmeister (2022; 2024) report a decrease in support for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May following the 2017 Manchester bombing, using data from the British Election Studies. Our analysis, however, reveals that once a linear time trend is considered, the bombing does not significantly affect public reactions. We replicate their study with Gallup World Poll data and likewise find no decline in May’s approval rating. Extending the analysis, we examine major terrorist attacks in African countries led by men and similarly find no rally effect. Together, these results cast doubt on terrorism’s capacity to trigger rally ’round the flag dynamics and challenge claims of a gendered pattern whereby women leaders face unique penalties in crises. We argue that broader comparative evidence is necessary before concluding whether citizens rally around, or retreat from, leaders in the wake of terrorism.

JOP 88/2 pp. 746-759 2026-04-01 Original The Politics of Disaster Prevention Martin Gilens, Tali Mendelberg, Nicholas Short Abstract Despite the importance of effective disaster policy, governments typically fail to produce it. The main explanation offered by political scientists is that voters strongly support postdisaster relief but not policies that seek to prevent or prepare for disaster. This study challenges that view. We develop novel measures of preferences for disaster prevention and postdisaster relief. We find strong support for prevention policies and candidates who pursue them, even among the subgroups that are the most opposed. Support for prevention has the hallmarks of “real” attitudes: consistency across wordings and response formats, including open-ended probes; steadfastness in the face of arguments; and willingness to make trade-offs against disaster relief, increased taxes, and reduced spending on other programs. Neither cognitive biases for the here and now nor partisan polarization prevent robust majority support for disaster prevention. We validate these survey findings with election results, which suggest voters act on these preferences.

PSJ — 2026-03-17 Original Understanding Citizens' Acceptance of AI in Policymaking: How Policy Domains, Levels of AI Involvement, and Stereotypical Perceptions Shape Public Support

PSJ 54/2 2026-03-09 Original Unpacking Welfare Deservingness Theory: Evidence From the Perceived Deservingness of Gig Workers Juhyun Bae Abstract ABSTRACT The theory of welfare deservingness provides valuable insights into the social legitimacy of welfare programs and the principles underlying policy design. In examining the question of who deserves what and why, established deservingness criteria emphasize that individuals demonstrating motivation to work (“reciprocity”) are typically perceived as more deserving. However, little is known about how the nature of work might affect perceived deservingness. This study addresses this gap by investigating the perceived deservingness of gig workers, a rapidly growing segment of the labor force characterized by distinctive work arrangements. The flexibility and autonomy inherent in gig jobs are argued to amplify perceptions of personal responsibility and control, thereby reducing public support for benefits for gig workers. Through preregistered survey experiments conducted as part of the 2022 Cooperative Election Study, this research identifies a significant “gig work deservingness penalty,” where gig workers are perceived as less deserving of welfare benefits compared to traditional workers, even when demonstrating motivation to work. This penalty is especially pronounced for immigrant gig workers. These findings uncover the established criterion of “job searching” is not homogeneous, offering critical insights into the challenges of building consensus for policy reforms aimed at creating security systems for emerging precarious groups.