Dysfunction by Design? Ohio Voters Don’t See a Political System that Works for Them

With only one month until Election Day 2026, a new survey conducted by Better Choices for Democracy, Centerline Research and Strategy and Harris Poll reveals widespread concern among Ohio voters about candidate choice, outsized role of special interest influence in politics and the state of political institutions. Economic concerns are central to voter views. Cost of living (66%), healthcare (44%), affordable housing (31%) and data centers (22%) are the top four most important issues voters say are facing the state.

Results from a survey of 1,200 registered voters fielded between September 25-28, 2026 (±2.9pts margin of error at the 95% confidence level, including the design effect) show that Ohioans see significant problems with the way elected leaders are chosen. Eighty-one percent say candidates pay too much attention to special interests. About three out of four voters (74%) say that they don’t have enough viable choices when it comes to candidates, and feel forced to choose a candidate that has a realistic chance of winning over their preferred candidate. About three in four voters (73%) also say that the general election feels decided before they have even cast their ballot. Together, these findings point to voter dissatisfaction with both the choices they have and their ability to influence how leaders are chosen. 

In addition, trust in the state government is notably low, with 71% of respondents saying they trust the state government in Columbus only a little or not at all. Only one in four voters say they trust it a great deal or a lot. This is important as low trust in government undermines civic health, political participation, institutional legitimacy and the perceived fairness of the democratic process.

Results also show a significant “care gap". While about half of respondents (49%) say that local elected officials care a great deal (17%) or somewhat (32%) about people like them, that figure falls for state officials, with only 11% saying they care a great deal and 30% saying somewhat. Only 12% say that they think their member of Congress cares a great deal about them. 

Voters also don’t think either major party cares about people like them. Only 14% of respondents say that the Republican Party and 17% say the Democratic Party cares a great deal about people like them. 

On the positive side, voters see possibilities for improving how they choose elected leaders. Results also show that a majority support Top Three elections. In addition, a majority also say they expect that a Top Three system will produce better representation than the current system of pick one plurality elections used in the state. State Senator Louis Blessing, III has introduced Senate Bill 395 in the Ohio legislature to address voter concerns regarding the need for meaningful choices, better representation and more accountability.

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