80 per cent of Americans say Joe Biden won the election

Only 3 per cent of respondents said Donald Trump had won the election

Credit: REUTERS

US Election Article Bar

Nearly 80 per cent of Americans, including more than half of Republicans, recognise President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

While the race with Donald Trump remains undecided in three states, Mr Biden passed the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.

The Reuters/Ipsos national opinion survey, which ran from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday, found that 79 per cent of American adults believe Mr Biden won the White House. Another 13 per cent said the election has not yet been decided, while only 3 per cent said Mr Trump won.

The results were somewhat split along party lines: about six in 10 Republicans and almost every Democrat said Mr Biden won.

The race race for Mr Biden on Saturday after he expanded his lead over Mr Trump in Pennsylvania.

Mr Trump has yet to recognise the result of the race. He prematurely declared victory well before the votes had been counted and has repeatedly complained without evidence that he is the victim of widespread voter fraud.

On Tuesday evening, he again took to social media to repeat claims of fraud and sent a tweet that was quickly flagged by Twitter for misinformation:

People will not accept this Rigged Election! https://t.co/XQAOIt5ZwU

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2020

Mr Trump’s claims have been echoed by members of his cabinet. Attorney General William Barr has authorised federal investigations of "substantial" allegations of voting irregularities.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said he foresees "a smooth transition to a second Trump administration":

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was part of a broader survey that was conducted Friday to Tuesday and included responses before the presidential race was called.

However, it showed that only 70 per cent of Americans, including 83 per cent of Democrats and 59 per cent of Republicans, trust their local election officials to "do their job honestly."

The poll also found that 72 per cent think the loser of the election must concede defeat, and 60 per cent think there will be a peaceful transition of power when Mr Trump’s term ends in January.

Read more: What happens if Donald Trump refuses to concede after losing the election?