Hosted by
While the ballots are still being counted, 2024’s national exit polls provide a glimpse into the motivations of the American electorate. Conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Poll consortium of ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News across key states, these polls help explain who voted and why. It’s important to note that exit polls are not a true picture of the demographics of the electorate. We won’t know the specifics until the votes are completed, certified, and filed.
This year, the major theme was dissatisfaction with the country’s economy. Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) expressed anger or frustration, while only about a quarter (25%) felt satisfied or enthusiastic about the path our country is currently on. This dissatisfaction was most pronounced among Republicans (62%), though Democrats also reported feeling dissatisfied or angry (36%), indicating that frustration cut partly across party lines.
Democracy (34%) and the economy (32%) were the two biggest issues driving voters to the polls. Democratic voters were more likely to have voted based on “protecting democracy” than any other issue. The same trend applied for Republicans when it came to “the economy.” Abortion (14%) and immigration (11%) were important but secondary concerns.
When asked to choose which candidates were “better” on individual issues, voters trusted Trump on the one issue that mattered the most: the economy (52% to 46%). Trump also held an edge when it came to immigration (53% to 44%), crime and safety (52% to 46%), and handling crises (52% to 46%). Abortion was the only issue tested where voters trusted Harris (49%) more than Trump (45%).
Voter turnout among young people appears to have decreased by 3% from 2020. Interestingly, though, younger voters were much more likely to choose Republican candidates than they were in 2020. Gen X voters (ages 45-64) made up the largest voting group (35%) and showed an astounding 10% increase in favorability for Republican candidates since 2020.The 2024 exit polls do a decent job of helping us understand who voted and why. Our third Seven Letter Insight Post Election Poll, which is wrapping up soon, will hold clear direction for what voters want from those leaders over the next two years. Stay tuned for that poll’s results soon!
Hosted by