The article reports that polling has found a sizeable share of Americans believe Joe Biden lost the 2020 presidential election, reflecting the continuing impact of Donald Trump’s efforts to challenge the result. It matters because persistent doubts about an election outcome that was officially certified and repeatedly upheld may further erode trust in US democratic institutions.

The report says the findings have prompted criticism from some Republicans, indicating unease within the party about the political and institutional consequences of repeating false claims of widespread election fraud. Biden won the 2020 election with 306 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 232, and courts, state officials and federal authorities found no evidence of fraud sufficient to change the result.