What were the top issues for Election Day voters? What an early exit poll found
Democracy and the economy were the top issues for voters casting ballots in the presidential election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, a new early exit poll reveals.
When presented with five issues, 34% of voters said that “the state of democracy” was their biggest priority while at the ballot box, according to an NBC News exit poll, which was conducted by Edison Research.
Thirty-one percent of voters said that the economy was their number one priority, while 14% said the same for abortion and 11% said the same for immigration. Just 4% said foreign policy was their key issue.
The survey — conducted as voters left their polling places across the U.S. — found that Harris and Trump voters had divergent priorities.
Most self-identifying Harris voters said their No. 1 priority was democracy, while abortion was the second-most popular key issue, with about 20% of those polled naming it. Both of these issues have been central to the Harris campaign.
In contrast, 50% of Trump voters signaled that the economy was their top issue, while 20% said immigration. The former president has run on a platform of curbing illegal immigration and reducing inflation.
There was less of a difference in priorities across genders, though. Both women and men listed democracy as their top issue. The economy was the second most prioritized issue for both groups.
When asked further about these two issues, voters expressed concerns.
About 75% of voters said they believe democracy in America is under threat. Just under 25% said they believe it is secure.
About 66% of voters said that they believe the American economy is poor or not good, and a far smaller share, about 33%, said they believe the economy is good or excellent.
Additionally, 45% of voters said that they are in a worse financial situation than they were in 2020 — which is the highest rate of financial dissatisfaction measured in at least 16 years, according to NBC News. Only about 25% of voters said that they are in a better financial position than four years ago.
The exit poll also revealed deep pessimism about the state of the country overall.
About 75% said that they “feel negatively about the way things are going in the country.” Forty-three percent said that they are dissatisfied, while 29% said that they are angry.
Further, voters were divided over what quality mattered most to them when deciding who to cast their ballot for.
Thirty percent said that “the ability to lead” was most important, while about 25% said they cared most about “someone who can bring needed change.” Twenty-one percent said they prioritized good judgment in a candidate, and 19% said they prioritized a candidate “who cares about people like them.”
The poll also found a majority of voters, 59%, disapproved of President Joe Biden’s job performance, while 41% approved of it.
Among white voters, Trump’s favorability was at 49% — an 8-point decrease from 2020. But, his favorability among Latino and Black voters has increased, according to the poll.
Men and women were also hotly divided in their support for the candidates.
Fifty-five percent of women said they voted for Harris, while 43% said they cast their ballots for Trump. In contrast, 53% of men said they voted for Trump, while 44% said they voted for the vice president, according to NBC News reporter Sahil Kapur.
The results of the poll could shift as more voters are interviewed, according to NBC News.
Because of this, election watchers should be cautious about reading into the results of such early polls, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News. As Election Night goes on, the updated polls should become “more representative of voters.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 6:51 PM with the headline "What were the top issues for Election Day voters? What an early exit poll found."