What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? (October 2026)

• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]"
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Measurement of Party ID for this figure is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents. Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this figure.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Race is calculated according to the race variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Gender is calculated according to the GENDER variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Community type is based on the following question, " Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Age is calculated according to the AGEG variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Education is calculated according to the EDUC variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Religiosity is calculated according to the IMPORT variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "What one issue is the most important to your vote in the 2026 Election? [OPEN-ENDED]" Fundamentalism is calculated according to the LITERAL variable.