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The midterm elections next month in the United States 鈥� in which voters will elect new officials at the local, state, and federal level, but not a new president 鈥� come at a time of uncertainty for democracy worldwide. Yet two trends in the U.S. challenge a common refrain that America鈥檚 centurieslong experiment in self-government is in trouble.

One trend is a string of consistent court rulings to safeguard elections and voting rights from false claims and unfair restrictions. The other is rising civic engagement, measured by political activism and high voter registration numbers. Together, they show that rule of law and the public鈥檚 desire for accountable government are holding firm against disinformation and cynicism.

鈥淎n expanding electorate, millions of citizens newly awake to the transformative power of the vote, and more determined than ever to be part of the democratic process and to be equitably represented in government 鈥� that鈥檚 what gives me hope,鈥� Harvard University political science professor Claudine Gay told The Harvard Gazette.

There are, of course, novel concerns about American democracy two years after the 2020 presidential election and its turbulent aftermath.

A third of Americans say election fraud determined President Joe Biden鈥檚 victory, according to a Monmouth University poll in June. A survey by the Brookings Institution last week found that 345 candidates for local, state, and federal office support false claims that the 2020 presidential election was flawed.

Yet more than half of voters worry more about making sure eligible voters have access to voting than about efforts to prevent voting fraud, according to a NPR/Marist poll in June. Since 2020, many states have enacted new laws that some interest groups say restrict voter access while others say prevent voting misconduct. One common restriction, for example, is a requirement for government-issued photo identification in order to vote. The controversy over this restriction is high even if nearly 8 in 10 Americans support it.

Meanwhile, in yet another measure of voter sentiments, 84% say the integrity of the elections is top priority, according to a Rasmussen poll last week. 鈥漃reventing cheating in elections is a priority for voters,鈥� the polling firm concluded. Some states are wrestling with bipartisan support for measures that meet these expectations.

Courts are trying to play a crucial role sorting out these issues and clashing priorities听鈥� maintaining their role in preserving the design of democracy. On Sept. 30, for example, a federal judge upheld voting laws in Georgia against allegations that they unfairly excluded certain types of people from casting ballots. The ruling effectively shut down claims by Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor, that she was denied victory when she sought the office four years earlier. A month earlier, a federal judge overturned a restrictive provision in Wisconsin that would have prevented disabled voters from casting ballots without assistance.

For many voters, worries about the electoral process are not their only concern. Issues such as rising crime, inflation, illegal border crossings, and Supreme Court rulings on personal rights are driving people to vote. A Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 59% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans are 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� enthusiastic about voting. That鈥檚 up 44% and 46% respectively from two years ago.

Younger voters in particular show what鈥檚 behind that enthusiasm. Recent polls by two universities, Tufts and Harvard, found voters in their 20s are determined to exercise their power.聽鈥淚n the past two election cycles, America鈥檚 youngest voters have proven themselves to be a formidable voting bloc with a deep commitment to civic engagement,鈥� said Mark Gearan, director of Harvard鈥檚 Institute of Politics, on the institute鈥檚 website. They show 鈥渁 pragmatic idealism as they consider the state of our democracy and the concerning challenges they face in their lives.鈥�

In the past, midterm elections were mainly seen as a report card on the current president. This year鈥檚 might be more 鈥� an affirmation that, despite democracy鈥檚 troubles, self-government can remain an exercise in honesty and hope.