Border security was once a top concern for the 2024 election, but falling illegal crossings and concerns around abortion appear to have shifted opinions.

A majority of voters across the United States have a pessimistic outlook on the country with the state of democracy and economy among the top two concerns, preliminary exit polling data indicates. Approximately three-quarters of voters surveyed feel negative about the direction the country is headed in – a figure consistent with polling data over the past few months.

New exit polling shows that the economy is — by far — the most pressing issue for voters this election cycle. The Associated Press surveyed more than 110,000 voters across the country and found that 4 in 10 voters think that the economy and the labor market is the biggest problem facing the United States.