US (Washington Insider Magazine) -As final votes are cast in the 2024 presidential election, preliminary results from the NBC News Exit Poll reveal that the state of U.S. democracy and the economy are the top issues on voters’ minds. Thirty-four percent of voters said democracy was the most important factor in their decision, followed closely by 31% who prioritized the economy. Other concerns, including abortion (14%) and immigration (11%), ranked lower, while foreign policy was the least mentioned (4%).
Gender played a significant role in these priorities: 20% of women ranked abortion as their top issue, compared to just 8% of men. Immigration, however, was of greater concern to men, with 12% ranking it higher than women (10%).
The mood of the electorate is overwhelmingly pessimistic, with nearly 75% of voters feeling negatively about the current direction of the country. Many respondents also expressed dissatisfaction with the nation’s economic situation, with 67% indicating they consider it poor or not good. Additionally, 45% of voters reported being financially worse off than they were four years ago, marking the highest rate of dissatisfaction in presidential elections since 2008.
Exit poll results also reveal distinct differences in issue priorities between voters supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and those backing former President Donald Trump. Harris voters are most concerned about democracy, followed by abortion, while Trump voters prioritize the economy, with immigration ranking second.
As the election continues to unfold, a growing number of voters are expressing concerns about President Joe Biden’s job performance, with only 41% approving and 59% disapproving. This approval rating is significantly lower than Trump’s job approval rating in 2020, signaling the importance for Harris to distinguish herself from Biden as she seeks voter support.
Breaking down the electorate by race, Trump has seen a decrease in favorability among white voters, while his favorability among Black and Latino voters has improved compared to 2020. In particular, Latino men are now backing Trump by a 10-point margin, a dramatic shift from their support for Biden four years ago. Despite these challenges, Harris maintains a slight edge over Biden among white voters, which could prove crucial in securing a win.
Voters are clearly focused on critical issues such as democracy, the economy, and abortion as they head to the polls, setting the stage for a high-stakes election outcome.