National Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted
National Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted
The numbers on this page are estimates from exit polls conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool. These surveys interviewed voters outside of polling places or early voting sites, or by phone (to account for mail-in voters).
Results from interviews with 15,590 voters are shown below. These numbers have been adjusted to match the actual vote count.
While exit polls offer an initial indication of how groups voted on election night, they are not perfect. The polls are not precise enough to distinguish between, say, 53 percent support or 50 percent support from a certain group. Like any survey, they are subject to sampling error, and they rely on estimates of how many people voted in each group.
Demographic
| |
Are you male or female?
Male 48% of voters | 53% | 45% |
Female 52% | 42 | 57 |
What is your racial or ethnic heritage?
White 67% of voters | 58 | 41 |
Black 13% | 12 | 87 |
Hispanic/Latino 13% | 32 | 65 |
Asian 4% | 34 | 61 |
Other 4% | 41 | 55 |
| |
How old are you?
18-29 17% of voters | 36 | 60 |
30-44 23% | 46 | 52 |
45-64 38% | 50 | 49 |
65 or over 22% | 52 | 47 |
What is your level of education?
College graduate 41% of voters | 43 | 55 |
No college degree 59% | 50 | 48 |
| |
Are you currently married?
Yes 56% of voters | 53 | 46 |
No 44% | 40 | 58 |
Are you gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?
Yes 7% of voters | 27 | 64 |
No 93% | 48 | 51 |
| |
Do you have any children under 18 living in your home?
Yes 33% of voters | 46 | 52 |
No 67% | 48 | 51 |
Are you a white evangelical or white born-again Christian?
White evangelical or white born-again Christian 28% of voters | 76 | 24 |
All others 72% | 36 | 62 |
| |
What was your total family income in 2019?
Under $50,000 35% of voters | 44 | 55 |
$50,000-$99,999 39% | 42 | 57 |
$100,000 or more 26% | 54 | 42 |
Compared to four years ago, is your family's financial situation:
Better today 41% of voters | 72 | 26 |
Worse today 20% | 20 | 77 |
About the same 39% | 34 | 65 |
| |
Do you work full-time for pay?
Yes 58% of voters | 51 | 47 |
No 42% | 42 | 57 |
Does anyone in your household belong to a labor union?
Yes 20% of voters | 40 | 56 |
No 80% | 49 | 50 |
| |
Have you ever served in the U.S. military?
Yes 15% of voters | 54 | 44 |
No 85% | 45 | 53 |
Is this the first year you have ever voted?
Yes 14% of voters | 32 | 64 |
No 86% | 49 | 49 |
| |
On most political matters, do you consider yourself:
Liberal 24% of voters | 10 | 89 |
Moderate 38% | 34 | 64 |
Conservative 38% | 85 | 14 |
No matter how you voted today, do you usually think of yourself as a:
Democrat 37% of voters | 5 | 94 |
Republican 36% | 94 | 6 |
Independent or something else 26% | 41 | 54 |
| |
In which part of the country do you live?
East 20% of voters | 41 | 58 |
Midwest 23% | 51 | 47 |
South 35% | 53 | 46 |
West 22% | 41 | 57 |
What kind of place do you live in?
City of 50K or more 29% of voters | 38 | 60 |
Suburb 51% | 48 | 50 |
Small city or rural area 19% | 57 | 42 |
| |
Are you white or nonwhite?
White 67% of voters | 58 | 41 |
Nonwhite 33% | 26 | 71 |
What is your gender and racial or ethnic heritage?
White men 35% of voters | 61 | 38 |
White women 32% | 55 | 44 |
Black men 4% | 19 | 79 |
Black women 8% | 9 | 90 |
Latino men 5% | 36 | 59 |
Latino women 8% | 30 | 69 |
All other races 8% | 38 | 58 |
| |
What is your race and education level?
White college graduate 32% of voters | 48 | 51 |
White noncollege graduate 35% | 67 | 32 |
Nonwhite college graduate 10% | 27 | 70 |
Nonwhite noncollege graduate 24% | 26 | 72 |
Issues and attitudes
| |
Which one of these five issues mattered most in deciding how you voted for president?
Racial inequality 20% of voters | 7 | 92 |
The coronavirus pandemic 17% | 15 | 81 |
The economy 35% | 83 | 17 |
Crime and safety 11% | 71 | 27 |
Health care policy 11% | 37 | 62 |
Which one of these four candidate qualities mattered most in deciding how you voted for president?
Can unite the country 19% of voters | 24 | 75 |
Is a strong leader 33% | 72 | 28 |
Cares about people like me 21% | 50 | 49 |
Has good judgment 24% | 26 | 68 |
| |
Which was more important in your vote for president today?
My candidate's positions on the issues 74% of voters | 53 | 47 |
My candidate's personal qualities 23% | 31 | 64 |
Who would better handle the coronavirus pandemic?
Joe Biden 53% of voters | 6 | 92 |
Donald Trump 43% | 95 | 4 |
| |
Who would better handle the economy?
Joe Biden 49% of voters | 2 | 96 |
Donald Trump 49% | 92 | 6 |
Which is more important?
Containing the coronavirus now, even if it hurts the economy 52% of voters | 19 | 79 |
Rebuilding the economy now, even if it hurts efforts to contain the coronavirus 42% | 78 | 20 |
| |
Do you think Donald Trump has the temperament to serve effectively as president?
Yes 44% of voters | 95 | 4 |
No 53% | 9 | 89 |
Do you think Joe Biden has the temperament to serve effectively as president?
Yes 54% of voters | 7 | 92 |
No 44% | 94 | 3 |
| |
Does Donald Trump have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?
Donald Trump does 49% of voters | 89 | 10 |
Donald Trump does not 49% | 6 | 92 |
Does Joe Biden have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?
Joe Biden does 49% of voters | 9 | 90 |
Joe Biden does not 49% | 86 | 11 |
| |
Was your vote for president mainly:
For your candidate 71% of voters | 53 | 46 |
Against his opponent 24% | 30 | 68 |
How do you feel about the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
Approve 50% of voters | 91 | 8 |
Disapprove 49% | 3 | 96 |
| |
Is your opinion of Donald Trump:
Favorable 46% of voters | 95 | 4 |
Unfavorable 52% | 5 | 93 |
Is your opinion of Mike Pence:
Favorable 46% of voters | 91 | 8 |
Unfavorable 48% | 8 | 91 |
| |
Is your opinion of Joe Biden:
Favorable 52% of voters | 4 | 94 |
Unfavorable 46% | 95 | 4 |
Is your opinion of Kamala Harris:
Favorable 48% of voters | 8 | 91 |
Unfavorable 47% | 89 | 9 |
| |
If Donald Trump is re-elected president, would you feel:
Excited 24% of voters | 99 | 1 |
Optimistic 21% | 86 | 12 |
Concerned 17% | 20 | 78 |
Scared 33% | 2 | 96 |
If Donald Trump is re-elected president, would you feel:
Excited or optimistic 45% of voters | 93 | 6 |
Concerned or scared 50% | 8 | 90 |
| |
If Joe Biden is elected president, would you feel:
Excited 22% of voters | 3 | 97 |
Optimistic 28% | 7 | 91 |
Concerned 23% | 92 | 5 |
Scared 23% | 93 | 6 |
If Joe Biden is elected president, would you feel:
Excited or optimistic 50% of voters | 5 | 94 |
Concerned or scared 46% | 93 | 5 |
| |
Do you think U.S. efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic are going:
Very well 18% of voters | 86 | 13 |
Somewhat well 33% | 78 | 21 |
Somewhat badly 15% | 24 | 74 |
Very badly 32% | 4 | 94 |
Has the coronavirus pandemic caused you:
A severe financial hardship 16% of voters | 29 | 69 |
A moderate financial hardship 39% | 39 | 59 |
No financial hardship at all 44% | 60 | 38 |
| |
Do you consider wearing a face mask in public more of a:
Personal choice 30% of voters | 73 | 24 |
Public health responsibility 67% | 35 | 64 |
Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:
Excellent or good 49% of voters | 78 | 22 |
Not so good or poor 50% | 17 | 80 |
| |
Do you expect life for the next generation of Americans to be:
Better than life today 54% of voters | 44 | 55 |
Worse than life today 20% | 45 | 52 |
About the same 21% | 58 | 40 |
Is your opinion of the Black Lives Matter movement:
Favorable 57% of voters | 20 | 78 |
Unfavorable 37% | 86 | 14 |
| |
Is racism in the U.S.:
Most important problem or one of many important problems 69% of voters | 30 | 68 |
A minor problem or not a problem at all 28% | 84 | 14 |
Do you think the country's criminal justice system:
Treats all people fairly 40% of voters | 84 | 14 |
Treats Black people unfairly 53% | 17 | 82 |
| |
Do you think climate change, also known as global warming, is a serious problem?
Yes 67% of voters | 29 | 69 |
No 30% | 84 | 15 |
Which comes closest to your position? Abortion should be:
Legal 51% of voters | 24 | 74 |
Illegal 42% | 76 | 23 |
| |
What should the Supreme Court do about Obamacare, the 2010 health care law?
Keep it as is 51% of voters | 18 | 80 |
Overturn it 44% | 78 | 21 |
In deciding your vote for president, were appointments to the Supreme Court:
The most important factor 13% of voters | 51 | 47 |
An important factor 47% | 45 | 54 |
A minor factor 18% | 48 | 51 |
Not a factor at all 19% | 49 | 49 |
| |
In deciding your vote for president, were appointments to the Supreme Court:
Most important or an important factor 60% of voters | 46 | 52 |
A minor factor or not a factor at all 37% | 48 | 50 |
Which best describes your feelings about the way the federal government is working?
Enthusiastic 13% of voters | 81 | 18 |
Satisfied, but not enthusiastic 27% | 70 | 29 |
Dissatisfied, but not angry 32% | 31 | 67 |
Angry 26% | 24 | 74 |
| |
Which best describes your feelings about the way the federal government is working?
Enthusiastic or satisfied 40% of voters | 74 | 25 |
Dissatisfied or angry 57% | 28 | 70 |
Do you think your state makes it easy or difficult for you to vote?
Very easy 69% of voters | 50 | 48 |
Somewhat easy 25% | 39 | 60 |
Somewhat difficult 4% | 46 | 52 |
Very difficult 2% | — | — |
| |
How confident are you that votes in your state will be counted accurately?
Very confident 47% of voters | 47 | 52 |
Somewhat confident 40% | 42 | 56 |
Not very confident 8% | 61 | 34 |
Not at all confident 4% | 66 | 31 |
When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential election?
In the last month 13% of voters | 51 | 46 |
Before that 83% | 47 | 51 |
| |
When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential election?
In the last week 5% of voters | 54 | 42 |
Before that 91% | 47 | 51 |
For which of the presidential candidates do you have a favorable opinion?
Both 3% of voters | 49 | 43 |
Only Biden 49% | 2 | 97 |
Only Trump 43% | 98 | 1 |
Neither 3% | 52 | 35 |
| |
For which of the vice-presidential candidates do you have a favorable opinion?
Both 6% of voters | 50 | 46 |
Only Harris 43% | 2 | 97 |
Only Pence 40% | 97 | 2 |
Neither 7% | 40 | 53 |
In the 2016 election for president, did you vote for:
Hillary Clinton (Dem) 40% of voters | 4 | 95 |
Donald Trump (Rep) 43% | 92 | 7 |
Other 5% | 25 | 60 |
Did not vote 11% | 39 | 58 |
| |
Do you think your state makes it easy or difficult for you to vote?
Very easy or somewhat easy 94% of voters | 47 | 51 |
Very difficult or somewhat difficult 6% | 45 | 52 |
More breakdowns
| |
Which presidential candidate has the temperament to serve effectively as president?
Both 5% of voters | 63 | 36 |
Only Biden 49% | 2 | 97 |
Only Trump 39% | 98 | 1 |
Neither 6% | 66 | 20 |
Which candidate has the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?
Only Joe Biden 41% of voters | 2 | 98 |
Only Donald Trump 41% | 98 | 1 |
Both of them 8% | 46 | 54 |
Neither of them 8% | 27 | 62 |
| |
How do you feel about the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
Strongly approve 38% of voters | 96 | 4 |
Somewhat approve 12% | 75 | 20 |
Somewhat disapprove 10% | 7 | 89 |
Strongly disapprove 39% | 1 | 97 |
Do you think U.S. efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic are going:
Very well or somewhat well 51% of voters | 81 | 18 |
Very badly or somewhat badly 48% | 11 | 87 |
| |
Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:
Excellent 13% of voters | 84 | 16 |
Good 36% | 75 | 24 |
Not so good 31% | 22 | 76 |
Poor 19% | 10 | 87 |
Is racism in the U.S.:
The most important problem 18% of voters | 11 | 87 |
One of many important problems 51% | 37 | 61 |
A minor problem 18% | 81 | 18 |
Not a problem at all 10% | 91 | 8 |
| |
Which comes closest to your position? Abortion should be:
Legal in all cases 25% of voters | 18 | 80 |
Legal in most cases 26% | 30 | 68 |
Illegal in most cases 25% | 72 | 27 |
Illegal in all cases 17% | 81 | 18 |
How confident are you that votes in your state will be counted accurately?
Very or somewhat confident 86% of voters | 45 | 54 |
Not very or not at all confident 12% | 63 | 33 |
| |
When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential election?
In the last few days 3% of voters | 47 | 49 |
In the last week 2% | 64 | 31 |
In October 8% | 49 | 48 |
In September 11% | 45 | 52 |
Before that 73% | 48 | 51 |
Do you have any children under 18 living in your home? What is your gender?
Men with children 17% of voters | 49 | 48 |
Women with children 17% | 43 | 56 |
Men without children 34% | 51 | 47 |
Women without children 33% | 44 | 55 |
| |
Are you married? What is your gender?
Married men 30% of voters | 55 | 44 |
Married women 26% | 51 | 47 |
Unmarried men 20% | 45 | 52 |
Unmarried women 23% | 36 | 63 |
What best describes your level of education?
Never attended college 19% of voters | 54 | 46 |
Attended college but received no degree 23% | 47 | 51 |
Associate’s degree 16% | 50 | 47 |
Bachelor’s degree 27% | 47 | 51 |
Graduate degree 15% | 37 | 62 |
| |
How old are you?
18-24 9% of voters | 31 | 65 |
25-29 7% | 43 | 54 |
30-39 16% | 46 | 51 |
40-49 16% | 44 | 54 |
50-64 30% | 52 | 47 |
65 or over 22% | 52 | 47 |
How old are you?
18-44 40% of voters | 42 | 56 |
45+ 60% | 51 | 48 |
| |
What is your racial or ethnic heritage? How old are you?
White 18-29 8% of voters | 53 | 44 |
White 30-44 14% | 57 | 41 |
White 45-59 19% | 61 | 38 |
White 60+ 26% | 57 | 42 |
Black 18-29 3% | 10 | 89 |
Black 30-44 4% | 19 | 78 |
Black 45-59 3% | 10 | 89 |
Black 60+ 3% | 7 | 92 |
Latino 18-29 4% | 28 | 69 |
Latino 30-44 4% | 34 | 62 |
Latino 45-59 3% | 30 | 68 |
Latino 60+ 2% | 40 | 58 |
All other 8% | 38 | 57 |
What was your total family income in 2019?
Under $30,000 15% of voters | 46 | 54 |
$30,000 - $49,999 20% | 43 | 56 |
$50,000 - $99,999 39% | 42 | 57 |
$100,000 - $199,999 20% | 58 | 41 |
$200,000 or more 7% | 44 | 44 |
| |
What was your total family income in 2019?
Under $50,000 35% of voters | 44 | 55 |
$50,000 or more 65% | 47 | 51 |
What was your total family income in 2019?
Under $100,000 74% of voters | 43 | 56 |
$100,000 or more 26% | 54 | 42 |
| |
Are you:
White female college graduate 14% of voters | 45 | 54 |
White female not a college graduate 17% | 63 | 36 |
White male college graduate 17% | 51 | 48 |
White male not a college graduate 18% | 70 | 28 |
Not any of these 33% | 26 | 71 |
These estimates are subject to sampling error. The potential error is greater for smaller subgroups, or for characteristics that are concentrated in a few polling places. They are also subject to other types of errors, such as those that would arise if certain types of people were unwilling to talk to exit poll workers.
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