Presidential Elections 2020: What Role does Healthcare Play in Voters' Decision-Making?
Vote with your health in mind! As the U.S. presidential elections heat up, let's take a look at how healthcare ranks among voter priorities.
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll, the economy reigns supreme, with a whopping 32% of registered voters putting it at the top of their list. Having said that, the ongoing pandemic is still not far behind, coming in second place, with 20% of voters considering it their top issue. These findings reflect a major shift since February 2020, when healthcare leading the charge.
Crime and policing made an impressive third, with 16% of voters prioritizing this issue, and race relations weren't far off, taking the fourth spot with 14%.
There's no denying it—voter priorities have changed substantially since the start of the year. In fact, healthcare turned out to be nowhere near the top of the list this time around. Compared to earlier in the year, the percentage of voters putting healthcare at the number one spot dropped a staggering 16 points!
You might be wondering, "what gives?" The experts at KFF attribute this shift to a combination of factors, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, the subsequent economic downturn, racial justice protests, and police shootings.
So, what specifically about healthcare matters most to voters? The survey reveals an emphasis on increasing access to healthcare insurance, reducing costs (including prescription drugs), and tackling the pandemic. On the flipside, concerns surrounding the Affordable Care Act seem to have dwindled among Republican voters.
When it comes to undecided swing voters, healthcare has lost its appeal as well. Previously, 28% of these voters placed healthcare at the top of their list, but now, only 15% can say the same. Instead, the economy (35%), criminal justice and policing (17%), and the pandemic (15%) rule the day.
Party affiliation plays a role too. While Republicans prioritize the economy and policing, Democrats place the pandemic and race relations at the forefront.
Interestingly, only 8% of voters believe a vaccine could be distributed by November 1, with a whopping 62% expressing concern that political pressure could rush the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into approving a vaccine that might not be entirely safe and effective.
Wearing a face mask continues to be a misconception among some voters, with 1 in 5 U.S. adults still believing it's harmful to their health. Additionally, trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Dr. Anthony Fauci's leadership has taken hits among both Democrats and Republicans since April.
Race issues have taken center stage in recent months, with 27% of Democratic voters viewing race relations as the most important issue in deciding their vote, and 23% of Republicans prioritizing criminal justice and policing. Large majorities of voters acknowledge the existence of problems related to racism, police violence, and protestor violence.
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Stay informed, stay safe, and keep on voting!
- Despite healthcare being a significant concern earlier in the year, it has dropped significantly in voter priorities, with only 15% of undecided swing voters considering it their top issue in the upcoming elections.
- As the U.S. presidential elections approach, general news outlets are highlighting the role of science and healthcare in the political landscape, with topics such as increasing access to healthcare insurance, reducing costs, and tackling the pandemic being key for many voters.
- In the realm of healthcare and health-and-wellness, politics also play a part in shaping policies, as policy proposals related to medicare and the Affordable Care Act continue to be debated and prioritized among voters based on party affiliations.
