US voters name economy and state of democracy as top issues, poll says
A major election day survey suggests voters are the most unhappy with the economy.
US voters identify the economy and the state of democracy as the leading issues, a poll says
The economy and the state of democracy have been identified as the top concerns for US voters, according to an election day poll.
In the survey of more than 79,000 people, 39% said the economy was the most important issue, while 32% chose the state of democracy.
After that, 14% of voters said immigration was the most important issue, while healthcare, foreign policy and crime were each ranked first by smaller shares.
The data indicates that most US voters hold a negative view of the national economy.
Some 75% of those surveyed said the economy was in a "not so good or poor" condition, while 25% described it as "excellent or good".
When asked about their own family 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.
Nearly two thirds, 65%, of the voters surveyed said US President Donald Trump's policies have made economic conditions in the US worse.
In contrast, 28% said Trump's policies have improved conditions, and only 8% said the president has had no effect.
Respondents were also asked whether support for or opposition to Trump was one reason for their midterm vote.
Some 43% said expressing opposition was a reason, but a similar share, 41%, said he was not a factor. Only 16% said expressing support was a reason for their vote.
Almost four in 10 respondents, 38%, said they were angry about the way things are going in the US right now, while another 37% said they were dissatisfied.
Only 18% said they were satisfied, and 7% said they felt enthusiastic.
Taken together, that means a majority told pollsters SSRS they are unhappy with the current state of the country.
Alongside the broader issues, pollsters also asked about inflation and the effect of rising prices on people's lives.
Almost eight in 10 voters, 79%, said inflation had caused them and their family severe or moderate hardship over the past year. A fifth, 21%, of those who answered said it had caused them no hardship at all.
A majority of voters, 59%, said they were "very concerned" about the cost of petrol and diesel, and a similar share, 58%, said the same about the cost of food and groceries.
More than six in 10 respondents, 62%, said they believed higher-than-usual prices were more due to Trump's policies.
And 38% said they were more due to factors beyond his control.