AARP Polls: How Candidates Are Faring Across the U.S.

As candidates take their messages to voters, AARP has commissioned a series of exclusive polls focusing on presidential swing states and states with tight races to gauge voters’ preferences and the issues that influence them.

These polls target voters of all ages and break out data on voters 50-plus. That group of older adults is likely to have an outsize influence on the outcome of the 2024 election because of its large numbers and dedication to turning out to vote.

“Voters over the age of 50 have historically been the deciders of the winners in the last several elections; in 2020 and 2022, they made up 55 percent and 65 percent of the electorate, respectively,” says Khelan Bhatia, AARP’s director of voter engagement. “Our 2024 battleground state polls show that they’re more motivated to vote than younger voters, which means they’re likely going to be the deciders again in this year’s election.”

The AARP polls take a close look at matchups between the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Republican, former President Donald Trump. To date, the two candidates are often nearly tied in head-to-head matchups in many states. Voters also are asked about their preferences among Harris, Trump and third-party presidential candidates, and voters weigh in on some congressional and U.S. Senate races.

Issues that matter in elections

The surveys, done by the bipartisan polling team of Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, ask voters about their top issues. To date, immigration and border security; inflation and rising prices; the economy and jobs; threats to democracy; and reproductive issues have risen to the top in many states. Pollsters also queried voters on how important Social Security, Medicare, family caregiving, and the cost of prescription drugs, housing and utilities are in deciding their vote.

Voters weigh in on the stances that would make them more likely to cast a ballot for a particular candidate: making sure workers get the Social Security they paid into the program, for example, or advocating for tax credits for unpaid family caregivers to help cover costs.

Caregiving is also a focus of the AARP surveys, which ask voters how many hours per week they care for an older or ill adult or someone with a disability. Many voters reported spending a significant amount of time in a caregiving roll.

“If candidates hope to win, they have to pay attention to [the concerns of older adults] like keeping Social Security strong and helping family caregivers take care of their loved ones,” Bhatia says.

Data collected by the pollsters provides insight into the mechanics of how voters plan to cast their ballots this election season, whether that’s early and in person before Election Day, by absentee or mail-in ballot, or by heading to the polls on Nov. 5. 

Voters also weigh in on how motivated they are to vote, whether they have favorable or unfavorable opinions of the candidates, and if they think the country is headed in the right or the wrong direction. Voters are also asked specific questions related to issues in their states.

Check our list of polls to find how voters across the country are leaning in the general election.