Economy and state of democracy top US voters’ concerns, poll finds
Most voters say the economy is in a weak state and that inflation has hit their households, according to a large election day survey.
Key points
- The economy was named the most important issue by 39% of those polled, with 32% choosing the state of democracy
- 75% rated the national economy as not so good or poor
- 65% said President Donald Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions
- 79% said inflation caused them a severe or moderate hardship in the past year
The economy and the state of democracy are the top issues for American voters, according to an election day poll reported by the BBC. The survey, officially called the Voter Poll, gathered answers from more than 79,000 people. The figures are estimates and may change as more data comes in.
Voters focus on the economy and democracy
Some 39% of those surveyed said the economy was the most important issue facing the country. Another 32% placed the state of democracy first. Immigration came next for 14% of voters, while healthcare, foreign policy and crime drew lower support as the top concern.
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Views of the national economy were largely negative. Three in four respondents described it as not so good or poor, while 25% called it excellent or good. When asked about their own household finances, 44% said they were worse off than two years ago, 38% said they were about the same and 18% said they were better off.
Opinions on Trump’s policies
Almost two thirds of voters, at 65%, said the policies of President Donald Trump have made economic conditions worse. Another 28% said those policies had improved conditions, and 8% said they had no impact.
Voters were also asked whether their support for or opposition to Trump played a part in their midterm vote. Opposition was cited as a reason by 43%, while 41% said he was not a factor. Only 16% said support for him was a reason for their vote.
Mood across the country
Asked about the way things are going in the United States, 38% said they were angry and a further 37% said they were dissatisfied. A far smaller group, 18%, described themselves as content, and 7% said they felt enthusiastic. Taken together, a clear majority told the pollsters that they are unhappy with the current state of the country.
Inflation hits household budgets
Rising prices were another major concern. Almost eight in ten voters, or 79%, said inflation had caused their family a severe or moderate hardship over the past year. Only 21% said it had caused no hardship at all.
Many voters said they were very concerned about everyday costs. Some 59% said they were very worried about the price of petrol and diesel, and 58% said the same about food and groceries. More than six in ten, at 62%, believed higher-than-usual prices were mainly due to Trump’s policies, while 38% said they were mainly caused by factors beyond his control.
The poll was run by the polling company SSRS on behalf of a group of news companies. It included exit polling of early and election day voters, and the BBC said the results give a broad picture of voter opinion ahead of the vote.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Voter Poll?
The Voter Poll is an election day survey of tens of thousands of American voters. Polling company SSRS collects the data on behalf of a group of news companies, and it includes exit polling.
Which issue did most voters rank first?
The economy was named the most important issue by 39% of those polled. The state of democracy was next, chosen by 32%.
How did voters rate inflationu0026#039;s impact?
Nearly 80% said inflation had caused them a severe or moderate hardship in the past year. About 21% said it caused them no hardship at all.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
