AARP Poll: Harris and Trump Are Neck and Neck Among Wisconsin Voters

Voters also were asked about Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race. Among voters of all ages, 50 percent favor Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin versus 47 percent for Republican challenger Eric Hovde — a 2-percentage-point gain for Hovde among all voters from the June/July poll. Among voters 50-plus, Hovde has a 1-percentage-point lead over Baldwin in the recent poll.

The data shows that some voters plan to split their tickets by voting for candidates from different parties, says Jeff Liszt, a partner with Impact Research.

AARP (Source: Getty images)

Sixteen percent of older voters, who make up 10 percent of Wisconsin voters overall, say they are not committed to voting for candidates from one party.

“There’s still enough ticket splitters, enough persuadable voters over 50, to swing the Senate race, to swing the presidential, any of these contests in Wisconsin,” Liszt says. 

Plenty of enthusiasm for voting

Interest in voting in November is higher than it was in the June/July poll, especially among older adults. Eighty-seven percent of all likely Wisconsin voters are “extremely motivated to vote,” a number that increases to 90 percent among voters 50-plus. In the summer poll, 76 percent of all likely voters and 85 percent of voters 50-plus said they were “extremely motivated to vote.”

Fifty-eight percent of older voters say they plan to vote at the polls on Election Day, while 21 percent plan to vote early in person, and 18 percent say they will vote by absentee ballot.

AARP (Source: Getty images)

“Wisconsin voters, especially people who are 50-plus, are highly motivated to vote and will turn out and will, as they always have, decide the election,” says Martha Cranley, AARP’s Wisconsin state director. “Candidates need to be paying attention to these issues that voters in Wisconsin are interested in.”

Most voters in Wisconsin are worried about the future of the country. Thirty-eight percent of voters 50-plus say the country is moving in the right direction, while 58 percent are concerned the nation is headed the wrong way. Among voters of all ages, 35 percent say the U.S. is going in the right direction, and 60 percent say it’s moving in the wrong direction.

Social Security, Medicare, cost of housing top concerns for older voters

When it comes to issues, older voters rank Social Security (77 percent), Medicare (69 percent) and policies to help older adults live independently at home as they age (63 percent) as extremely important when deciding on a candidate. Also among their top concerns are the cost of prescription drugs (59 percent), the cost of utilities (57 percent) and the cost of housing (53 percent).

Finances are top of mind for older voters in Wisconsin, 54 percent of whom are worried about their personal financial situation. Fifty-three percent of voters 50 and older say Social Security is or will become a major source of income for their household. The majority of older adults surveyed (92 percent) say they would be more likely to support a candidate who ensures older workers receive their Social Security benefits.

“We have an aging population,” Cranley says. “Because of that, you have a higher percentage of people living on a fixed income, relying on Social Security, relying on other forms of assistance.”

AARP (Source: Getty images)

On the issues most important in deciding their votes in this election, older adults list immigration and border security (35 percent); the economy and jobs (27 percent); inflation and rising prices (24 percent); threats to democracy (22 percent); and abortion and reproductive issues (21 percent) as top factors.

Twenty-seven percent of older voters in Wisconsin report being a caregiver for an older or ill adult or someone with a disability. Twenty-eight percent of caregivers 50-plus say they spend 21 or more hours a week doing so, while 19 percent spend 11 to 20 hours per week caregiving.

Voters who are 50-plus want to see more assistance for caregivers. Seventy-one percent say they would be more likely to back a candidate who advocates for family caregivers who help loved ones live independently in their own homes. Sixty-seven percent are more likely to support candidates who advocate for tax credits for unpaid family caregivers. Sixty-six percent would be more likely to vote for candidates advocating for paid leave for caregivers.

Ward says winning over older voters who are caregivers should be on the radar screen for those running for office. “Both candidates can pay more attention to them,” Ward says. “They are up for grabs in that regard.”