Gallup Poll: Americans Want to Change Congress

As economic conditions in the country continue to decline, American voters are expressing more frustration with Congress and its inability to address the many crises the nation faces.

A new Gallup Poll survey released last week shows just 36 percent of U.S. registered voters say most members of Congress deserve re-election. This, along with a Rasmussen Report in July that showed Congress has reached an all time low — receiving a dismal 9 percent approval rating — is among the lowest ratings measured in a recent presidential or congressional election year, Gallup reports.

The survey results, obtained prior to Congress breaking for its annual summer recess, is an indication that significant change may be afoot in this year’s congressional elections.

In the 1994 and 2006 mid-term elections, just 38 percent of registered voters said they would back incumbents for Congress, which resulted in control of the House switching from one party to the other.

In the presidential election year of 1992, only 29 percent of registered voters said they would back incumbents running for re-election, which resulted in a number of congressman losing office, though party control of the House remained unchanged.

Such low ratings, the poll suggests, tend to foretell significant turnover in Congress, as voters look to change the way government conducts business.