AARP Poll: Presidential Race a Toss-Up in Battleground State Michigan

Enthusiasm to vote high among voters 50-plus

Interest in voting in November is high, especially among older adults. Eighty-three percent of all likely Michigan voters are “extremely motivated to vote,” a number that increases to 88 percent among voters 50-plus.

“It tells us that you can expect this year to look like past elections in which older voters have been a majority of the electorate in Michigan, and that’s why candidates need to be focused on the issues that matter to them,” says Jeff Liszt, a partner with Impact Research.

Voters 50-plus who plan to split their ticket by supporting candidates from both parties in different races also will play a key role, Liszt says. The poll shows that 43 percent of older voters plan to vote a straight Republican ticket, 41 percent of them plan to vote a straight Democratic ticket and 16 percent of them plan to split their ticket, Liszt says.

“So there are enough voters up for grabs who are over age 50 to swing the presidential race, to swing the Senate race, to swing competitive House races,” Liszt says. “A lot of races in Michigan are going to be decided by voters over 50. We also know that voters over 50 are going to be the majority of the electorate.”

AARP (Source: Getty Images)

Forty-six percent of older voters say they plan to vote at the polls on Election Day. Thirty-eight percent plan to vote by absentee ballot, and 12 percent say they will vote early in person. ​

Most voters in Michigan are worried about the future of the country. Only 36 percent of voters 50-plus say the country is moving in the right direction, while 61 percent are concerned the nation is headed the wrong way. Among voters of all ages, 30 percent say the U.S. is going in the right direction, and 66 percent say it’s moving in the wrong direction.

Social Security, Medicare, aging in place are top concerns for older voters

AARP (Source: Getty Images)

Likely voters 50-plus ranked Social Security (81 percent), Medicare (72 percent) and policies to help older adults live independently at home as they age (69 percent) as extremely important when deciding on a candidate. Also among their top concerns are the cost of utilities and prescription drugs (both 66 percent) and housing (59 percent). ​

Finances are top of mind for older voters in Michigan, 59 percent of whom are worried about their personal financial situation. Sixty-one 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.

The concern about economic issues among voters isn’t surprising, Cunningham says.

“People are either threatened by them (economic issues), or they feel like their Social Security’s not going to be there,” she says.

When asked what issues were most important in deciding their votes in this election, older adults listed immigration and border security (32 percent); inflation and rising prices (27 percent); the economy and jobs (24 percent); threats to democracy (21 percent); and abortion and reproductive issues (19 percent) as top factors.

“Across the spectrum, the economy is the looming sort of issue set that voters want to hear candidates talk about,” Ward says.

Caregiving plays an important role

Thirty percent of older voters in Michigan say they provide care for an older or ill adult or someone with a disability. Those voters also spend a substantial amount of time caring for a family member. Thirty-one percent of caregivers 50-plus say they spend 21 or more hours a week doing so, while 16 percent spend 11 to 20 hours per week caregiving.

“This is an issue that both sides really can go in on, and I think candidates so far have yet to engage this very sizable group” Ward says. “This is clearly one (issue) that is important to a lot of people in Michigan that could make a difference.”