(The Center Square) – Going into the 2024 election, Georgia voters are most concerned about many of the same issues as voters around the nation: inflation and the economy.
When asked “what issue will have the biggest influence on your vote for president in November,” 26.3% of all respondents said inflation/cost of living.
This is followed by 16% voting for the economy/jobs, 14.5% for preserving democracy, and 12.9% for immigration.
While many Democrats are running on abortion as a key issue, only 7.6% of voters listed that as their biggest issue.
Almost half of respondents, including 18% of Democrats, said they are financially worse off at this point than they were a year ago.
This is all according to a recent survey from the School of Public and International Affairs Survey Research Center at the University of Georgia.
Dr. M.V. Hood III, professor of political science at the University of Georgia, led the survey, which polled 1,000 likely Georgia voters from June 11-20. The margin of error is +/-3.1 points.
Dr. Charles S. Bullock III, a professor of political science at the University of Georgia, told The Center Square that Georgia voters are concerned with the same issues as voters across the nation.
“Issues in Georgia are much like elsewhere,” he said. “Republicans stress the economy, inflation, jobs, and immigration. Democrats’ top issue is protecting democracy, with concern about the economy a strong second.”
The numbers in the poll are fairly similar to The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, which was conducted in early July.
That poll found that likely voters said inflation/price increases (45%), illegal immigration (36%) and the economy/jobs (28%) were the issues that matter most to them heading into the November election.
In both surveys, conservatives and moderates were much more likely to list inflation and the economy as their top issue, while liberals were more likely to list preserving democracy or abortion.
The University of Georgia survey found that the younger the respondent, the more likely they were to list inflation as a top concern, while the older respondents were more likely to list immigration.
Only 1.7% of those ages 30-44 said immigration was a top influence on their decision.
Yet, when asked how serious of a problem they believe immigration is, 80% of respondents said they believe it is either a very serious or somewhat serious problem.
Bullock said that the concerns over immigration have been at the forefront of voters’ minds, especially in Georgia, because of recent news stories that went viral.
“What makes immigration more significant in 2024 is the murder of Laken Riley in Athens by a Venezuelan undocumented who had previously been arrested for minor infractions but released,” he said. “He put a face on claims of a border being overrun by criminals.”
By Elyse Apel | The Center Square
Elyse Apel is an apprentice reporter with The Center Square, covering Georgia and North Carolina. She is a 2024 graduate of Hillsdale College.
