Democracy is Top Issue for Voters This Election, New Polls Show

A protest takes place outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 4 ahead of the 2024 election. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via AP)

Democracy is a top issue on the minds of voters in this election, primarily driven by Democratic voters, according to an NBC News exit poll released this evening.

The nationwide poll reveals that 35% of voters said that democracy is the most important issue to them, which includes 56% of Vice President Kamala Harris voters and only 12% of former President Donald Trump voters. A CBS News exit poll also reflected this divide among Harris and Trump voters on this issue.

Specifically, around three in four voters said they believe our democracy is threatened, while only a quarter said that democracy is secure, the NBC News poll showed.

Other important issues for voters include the economy, abortion, immigration and foreign policy, according to the exit poll.

Also, a new AP News poll showed that about half of voters across the country said “the future of democracy” is the issue that influenced their voting decision the most.

Read more about the NBC News exit poll here.