Most voters in presidential election say US democracy is under threat, exit polls show

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 deep anxiety the nation faces 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 on the campaign trail, 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 through the course of the night as more people are surveyed.

Forty-four percent of voters viewed Trump favorably, compared with 46% in the 2020 exit polls, when he lost to President Joe Biden. Harris was viewed favorably by 48% of respondents, compared with Biden's 52% rating in 2020.

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 largely 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.

Exit poll shows Harris leading

National exit-poll results provide an important window into the thinking of the nation, but may not directly align with the seven battleground states expected to decide the presidential election.

Following are preliminary results from an exit poll conducted by Edison Research.

44% of voters nationwide said they had a favorable view of Trump, compared to 46% who said so in Edison Research's 2020 exit poll. 54% viewed him unfavorably, compared to 52% in 2020.

48% of voters nationwide said they had a favorable view of Harris, compared to 52% who said the same of Biden in Edison Research's 2020 exit poll. 50% viewed her unfavorably, compared to 46% who viewed Biden that way in 2020.

31% of voters nationwide said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election. 11% said immigration, 14% abortion, 34% the state of democracy, 4% foreign policy.

51% of voters nationwide said they trust Trump more to handle the economy. 47% said they trust Harris more.

39% of voters nationwide said most undocumented immigrants in the United States should be deported to the countries they came from. 57% said they should be offered a chance to apply for legal status.

51% of voters nationwide said they trust Harris more to handle the issue of abortion. 44% said they trust Trump more.

31% of voters nationwide said U.S. support for Israel is too strong. 30% said it's not strong enough and 31% said it's about right.

73% of voters nationwide said they think democracy in the U.S. is threatened. 25% said it is secure.

53% of voters nationwide were women, compared to 52% in Edison Research's 2020 exit poll. 47% were men, compared to 48% in 2020.

71% of voters nationwide were white, compared to 67% in Edison Research's 2020 exit poll. 11% were Black, compared to 13% in 2020. 12% were Hispanic, compared to 13% in 2020.

5% of voters nationwide were Black men, compared to 4% in 2020. 7% were Black women, compared to 8% in 2020.

6% of voters nationwide were Hispanic men, compared to 5% in 2020. 6% were Hispanic women, compared to 8% in 2020.

Exit polling reflects just a slice of the tens of million of people who have voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change through the course of the night as more people are surveyed.

One key advantage of exit polls is all the people surveyed, by definition, are people who cast ballots in this election.