Voters say US democracy under threat, exit polls show
World
Three-quarters of voters in presidential election say American democracy is under threat
(Web Desk) - Nearly three-quarters of voters in Tuesday's presidential election say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison Research, reflecting the nation's deep anxiety after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration at 14% and 11%, the data showed.
The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.
The data underscores the depth of polarization in a nation whose divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race.
Trump has employed increasingly dark and apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted.
Harris has urged Americans to come together, warning that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.
The figures represent just a slice of the tens of millions of people who have voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change during the evening as more people are surveyed.
Harris was relying on a large turnout by women voters to compensate for her electoral weakness with men. The exit polls showed women made up 53% of the electorate, largely unchanged from the 52% in 2020 exit polls.
The share of voters without a college degree - who favor Trump - was at 57%, down slightly from 2020's 59%, according to the data.
The two rivals were hurtling toward an uncertain finish on Tuesday after a dizzying campaign as millions of American voters waited in calm, orderly lines to choose between two sharply different visions for the country.
