Democracy tops list of issues for US voters, followed by economy — exit poll

Exit polls have started being released across American media on Tuesday night, offering a snapshot of voter sentiment.

According to data from NBC, 35% of voters named democracy as their top issue, with 31% citing the economy.

Other key issues include abortion (14%) and immigration (11%), while foreign policy garnered only 4% of concern, even amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

While not conclusive, these exit polls help shape the narrative around key voter concerns.

Among Harris supporters, the leading issues are democracy (58%) and abortion (22%), whereas Trump supporters prioritize the economy (49%) and immigration (21%).

Both men and women ranked democracy as their primary issue, which may benefit Kamala Harris, who has repeatedly portrayed Donald Trump as a "fascist" who poses a direct threat to US democracy and the long-standing systems of checks and balances.

"All told, the mood of the country is pessimistic: About three-quarters of voters nationwide feel negative about the way things are going in the country, including 29% who said they’re angry," NBC writes.

How are US exit polls different?

US exit polls differ significantly from the exit polling practices common in Europe. Unlike EU countries, which often wait until polls close to release exit data, US exit polls are released by media outlets even before voting ends in many areas.

In the US, exit polls are conducted at about 500 polling sites, but these surveys are also supplemented by phone interviews to capture opinions from early and mail-in voters. This broader approach aims to reflect the diverse voting methods in the country, especially with the rise in early voting.

These polls can provide an early look into which demographics favour each candidate, which is particularly important in this election, given issues like gender and voter turnout among women.

Questions cover voter choice, demographics (such as age, gender, race, and education), and opinions on central issues of the race, including abortion, immigration, crime, the economy, and racial equity.

The most used exit polls are those conducted by Edison Research on behalf of major networks, including CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC.

The survey sample for each state ranges between 1,500 to 2,500 respondents, with a total of approximately 20,000 voters participating across the US.