Exit polls: US voters name democracy and economy as top issues

According to early findings from exit polls, the key concerns for voters in this year's US elections were democracy and the economy.

Over a third of respondents ranked democracy as their primary concern among the five choices provided.

The economy was the next topic on the list, succeeded by issues related to abortion, immigration, and foreign relations. As new information comes in throughout the night, this initial data may be subject to change.

Since 2008, the economy has consistently been the most important issue driving voters in presidential elections. It continues to be a close contender for this position.

The results from the exit poll revealed significant differences between the two parties regarding their priorities, mirroring what earlier polls had indicated before the election.

Among those who support Harris, roughly 60% indicated that the state of democracy was the key factor influencing their decision. In contrast, only about 10% of Trump supporters felt the same way.

In contrast, 50% of Trump supporters pointed to the economy as their top concern, while only 10% of Harris supporters felt the same way.

However, both groups expressed worries about the state of democracy in the United States. Almost 75% of respondents indicated that they believed democracy was either "very" or "somewhat" at risk, with similar proportions reported from both political parties.

Approximately 70% of voters in the latest findings expressed concern about potential violence stemming from the election results, with majorities from both Trump and Harris supporters sharing this worry.

CBS, the BBC's broadcast partner in the US, reports that for the first time since the 1970s, the exit poll has inquired about voters' concerns regarding potential violence in connection with a US presidential election.

Seventy percent of voters felt assured that the election was being run in a fair and accurate manner.

However, that feeling was divided along party lines, with supporters of Harris showing much more confidence, while Trump supporters were notably divided in their views.

Early exit poll data revealed that supporters of the two presidential candidates had differing views on their financial circumstances.

Approximately 75% of the individuals surveyed who supported Donald Trump indicated that they and their families are in a worse situation now compared to 2020, while less than 10% felt that their circumstances had improved.

Of the individuals who reported voting for Kamala Harris, 40% mentioned that their circumstances had improved.

The supporters of each candidate had different opinions on how inflation had impacted them.

According to the exit poll data, one-third of Donald Trump's supporters reported that they and their families experienced "severe" difficulties as a result, while only around 10% of Kamala Harris voters said the same.

Among all voters, two-thirds indicated that they viewed the national economy as either "not so good" or "poor." However, this sentiment was significantly more common among those who support Trump.