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US election 2024: While the final results of the 2024 US Presidential elections are hours, if not days away, the first preliminary exit poll results are out. Exit poll results released by Edison Research show that Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris has a slight edge over her competitor, Republican Donald Trump.

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It also shows that nearly three-quarters of the voters believe that America's democracy was under threat.

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Trump vs Harris: First preliminary exit polls

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Both the White House race contenders, as per the preliminary exit poll results, are seeing a dip in their favourability, compared to 2020.

44 per cent of the voters — down from 46 per cent in 2020 — said they view Donald Trump favourably. Meanwhile, 48 per cent of the voters — down from 52 per cent that viewed the-then Democrat nominee Joe Biden favourably in 2020 — said they view Kamala Harris favourably.   

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Issues that matter: First preliminary exit polls

As per the poll, democracy (33 per cent) and the US economy (33 per cent) are by far the most important issues for voters. These are followed by abortion (14 per cent) and immigration (11 per cent).

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While 73 per cent of the voters voiced their concern about the democracy being in jeopardy, only 25 per cent said it was secure.

Similarly, exit polls from CNN, AP and NBC show that for more than a third of voters, democracy was the top issue, followed by the economy (about 30 per cent of voters), abortion rights (about 14 per cent), and immigration (about 14 per cent). At the same time, foreign policy was a minor concern, with less than 10 per cent saying it as a top issue.

For Harris supporters, democracy was their top issue, followed by abortion rights. Trump voters ranked the economy as their highest concern, followed by immigration for 20 per cent and democracy for 10 per cent.

Harris voters said it was most important to have a leader with good judgment and someone who cares about people. Trump voters prefer someone who has the ability to lead or can bring about needed change. Good judgment and someone who cares were in single digits for Trump voters.

(With inputs from agencies)