Preliminary results from an NBC News exit poll show that the state of U.S. democracy and the economy are the most important issues for voters in the 2024 presidential election.
Thirty-five percent of voters said democracy was most important for their vote, and 31% said the economy. Abortion (14%) and immigration (11%) were the next most important issues, while only 4% cited foreign policy.
Both men and women said the state of democracy was the most important issue, followed by the economy. Two in 10 women said abortion was most important, compared to 8% of men. For immigration, men (12%) ranked slightly higher than women (10%). Foreign policy lagged behind as a priority for both groups.
Exit poll results could change overnight as more interviews are conducted and more votes are counted.
Issue priorities reflected voters’ deep concerns. Roughly three in four voters think democracy in the United States is under threat today, but only a quarter say democracy is safe. Approximately two in three voters said the domestic economy was in poor or poor condition, but only one-third of voters rated the economic situation as good or good.
Overall, the mood in the country is pessimistic. About three-quarters of voters nationwide feel negatively about the current situation in the country, with 43% saying they are dissatisfied and 29% saying they are angry.
Early exit poll results also show that voters who supported Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have different priorities on the issue.
A majority of Harris voters prioritized the state of democracy. Abortion was the second most important issue for Harris voters, with 2 in 10 saying it was most important to their vote, followed by the economy, foreign policy and immigration.
Half of those who voted for President Trump said the economy was the most important issue in their vote, followed by immigration (20%), democracy (12%), abortion (6%) and foreign policy (4%). Ta.
Three in 10 voters nationwide said leadership ability is the most important quality in a candidate when deciding how to vote for president. About a quarter said they would prioritize candidates who can bring about needed change, followed by candidates with good judgment (21%) and candidates who care about people like them (19%). It became.
Preliminary exit polls also found that only 41% of voters approve of President Joe Biden’s job performance, while 59% disapprove. This is significantly lower than Trump’s 2020 employment rating when he lost re-election (50%) and highlights the need for Harris to get voters to see her differently than Biden.
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