Yet according to the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, large majorities of Americans currently believe that crime is increasing in the U.S. and that violent crime is higher now than it was in the 1990s .
A similar majority say they are either very or somewhat worried about a “breakdown of law and order in American cities.”● The belief that violent crime is increasing in respondents’ communities is up 10 points since July 2021 among Republicans , and up 9 points among independents .
● And the belief that law enforcement is “not tough enough on most offenders” is up 11 points since July 2021 among Republicans , and up 14 points among independents. As a result, crime appears to be doing for Republicans what abortion has been doing for Democrats — motivating the base and serving as a wedge issue with some swing voters.
In keeping with historical trends, Americans are less angry or dissatisfied with “the way crime is being handled in [their] own community.” For the most part, any perceived breakdown of law and order is happening elsewhere. But as Republicans continue to hammer on crime in the final days of the campaign, that perception will likely be enough to keep their voters riled up — and to help sway some undecideds.