Support slips for First Amendment: Survey

Americans are placing less value on the First Amendment than they did four years ago, according to a new survey.

A Freedom Forum report showed 58 percent of people say they would approve the First Amendment today, a 4-point drop from 2020.

Despite the decrease in importance, respondents said the right to free speech will influence their vote this fall. More than half of Americans in the Northeast said the First Amendment is relevant to their decision this fall, compared to 49 percent in the Midwest.

When evaluating the candidates, around one-third of people considered former President Trump to be a “protector” of First Amendment freedoms, compared to 42 percent who view Harris that way. However, responses differed based on age and class.

Baby boomers were more likely to perceive Trump as a threat to the First Amendment than younger generations. Americans making between $60,000 to $100,000 believe Harris is a threat to the First Amendment, while those with an income of more than $100,000 were more likely to perceive Trump as a threat. 

As it relates to freedom of speech, responses showed people are likely to self-censor, especially when it comes to discussions about this year’s elections. More than half of individuals reported fearing a violent interaction with others, while 46 percent cited tension with family and friends as factors in their silence; comparatively, a quarter of respondents said they were afraid of being fired. 

The research presented came from a 12-minute questionnaire completed by 820 Americans from July 29 to Aug. 5, and the margin of error for the survey sample is 3.4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.