Epoch Times readers identified election integrity, immigration enforcement, federal spending, the cost of living, and public stewardship as top priorities for the nation today.
While more than half of Republicans (57 percent) held a more optimistic view on the path ahead for America, a majority of Democrats (82 percent) shared a dimmer outlook on the country’s trajectory.
Republicans identified immigration and border security as a key factor shaping the nation’s future. Meanwhile, Democrats noted financial well-being as a primary influence.
Despite opposing outlooks and distinct policy priorities, both sides reported that polarization and governance, as well as public stewardship, informed their assessment of the nation’s path.
Here are breakdowns from the survey results.
Election Integrity
A majority (78 percent) of respondents cited election integrity and voting laws as central concerns.
The White House on July 16 declassified documents revealing foreign interference in U.S. elections, which include voter data exploitation, voting system vulnerabilities, voter registration fraud, and noncitizen voters.
Documents disclosed that Chinese Communist Party-related cyber actors collected more than 200 million U.S. voter files, including names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data, while operating ideological campaigns in an attempt to divide the nation and influence American politics.
The Chinese Communist Party’s policy was to leverage all domestic and foreign elements opposed to the U.S. president, said President Donald Trump when delivering a primetime address to the nation on July 16.
Unfortunately, the colossal security breach was covered up by some American intelligence agencies, which is “even more disturbing” in light of China’s interference in Trump’s campaigns, the president stated.
Heightened concerns about election integrity also come amid recent revelations of state-level system glitches.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill revealed on July 21 that the state falsely registered roughly 6,600 noncitizen voters between June 2023 and June 2024 due to a software error in the Motor Vehicle Commission system.
Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently found 278,000 noncitizens on voter rolls in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada, as well as more than 400,000 voters listed as deceased in 10 states—Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana, and Kansas.
In California, more than 148,000 mail-in ballots for the June 2 primary election were rejected because of arriving late, no voter signature, or non-matching signature.
Immigration Enforcement
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents ranked border security and immigration enforcement as a top national priority.
Over 3 million illegal aliens have been out of the country as of January, including more than 675,000 removed and an estimated 2.2 million self-deported, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Arrests of illegal immigrants averaged over 1,500 per day in July—the highest level in the 23-year history of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Almost all Republicans (97 percent) and nine in 10 independents (90 percent) stated that the border and immigration situation had shown at least some improvement.
Democrats were more divided on the issue. While 22 percent felt the border and immigration situation had improved, twice as many (44 percent) said it had worsened, with one-third remaining unsure.
Government Spending and Debt
A 51 percent majority of survey takers cited federal spending and the national debt as top-five national concerns.
Roughly 62 percent of respondents felt that federal spending and the national debt had grown worse, while a quarter saw at least some progress.
In fiscal year 2025, federal spending reached $7 trillion against $5.2 trillion in revenue, resulting in a deficit of nearly $1.8 trillion—down $41 billion from the previous year.
As of June 30, the federal government has spent more than $1.5 trillion on Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare services.
Healthcare spending accounted for 28 percent of the total government payout this year—more than double the amount spent on national defense.
Despite high levels of federal spending assisting the healthcare industry, concerns over affordability crossed party lines.
Majorities of Democrats (85 percent) and independents (54 percent), along with nearly half (46 percent) of Republicans, reported that affordability had deteriorated.
Cost of Living
About 40 percent of survey takers identified inflation and the cost of living as top concerns facing Americans. Yet, readers’ feelings were split on this issue, with 44 percent noting progress and 48 percent reporting that it had worsened.
Notably, housing affordability was another area of cross-party consensus, with majorities of Democrats (78 percent), Independents (58 percent), and Republicans (52 percent) agreeing that conditions had worsened.
When asked about their personal financial situation, nearly half of Republicans (48 percent) said it was about the same as a year ago, with 36 percent feeling better off and 16 percent worse off.
However, among Democrats, a 54 percent majority reported being worse off, while about 32 percent said they saw no change in their finances and 14 percent felt better off.
Public Stewardship
Another 39 percent pointed to government efficiency and accountability as a primary issue.
Six in 10 respondents (60 percent) were satisfied with the federal government’s handling of key public concerns, compared to 31 percent who expressed dissatisfaction.
Three-quarters of those surveyed believed the federal government addressed their top priorities to a degree.
While nearly three-fourths of Republicans and over half of independents observed positive changes in government performance and oversight, 19 percent of Democrats reported strides—with nearly 64 percent reporting a decline.
The Epoch Times conducted this reader survey on July 22–23, 2026, by email and social media, generating 2,191 responses.
