Harris supporters emphasize democracy, while Trump voters prioritize the economy.
Exit polls began being published in US media on Tuesday evening, offering insight into voter sentiment.
According to NBC data, 35% of voters cited democracy as their top issue, and 31% cited the economy.
Other key issues include abortion (14%) and immigration (11%), while foreign policy garnered only 4% of concerns, even against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. -East.
Although inconclusive, these exit polls help shape the discourse around voters’ key concerns.
Among Harris supporters, the top issues are democracy (58%) and abortion (22%), while Trump supporters prioritize the economy (49%) and immigration (21%) ).
Both men and women have placed democracy as their top issue, which could benefit Kamala Harris, who has repeatedly described Donald Trump as a “fascist” who poses a direct threat to American democracy and the brakes and systems counterweight that has been in place for a long time.
“Overall, the mood in the country is pessimistic: about three-quarters of voters nationally have a negative view of the way things are going in the country, with 29% saying they are angry,” writes NBC.
How are exit polls in the United States different?
Exit polling in the United States differs significantly from common exit polling practices in Europe. Unlike EU countries, which often wait until after elections to release exit poll data, the results of exit polls in the United States are published by the media even before voting ends in many countries. many regions.
In the United States, exit polls are conducted at around 500 polling places, but these surveys are also supplemented by telephone interviews to gather the opinions of early voters and mail-in voters. This broader approach aims to reflect the diversity of voting methods in use in the country, particularly with the increase in early voting.
These polls can provide early insight into the demographics favorable to each candidate, which is especially important in this election given issues such as gender and women’s voter turnout.
The questions ask about voter choice, demographics (such as age, gender, race, and education), and opinions on central issues in the race, including abortion, immigration, crime, the economy and racial equity.
The most widely used exit polls are those conducted by Edison Research on behalf of the major networks, including CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC.
The survey sample for each state ranges between 1,500 and 2,500 respondents, with a total of approximately 20,000 voters participating across the United States.
