New AARP Georgia Poll: 65-plus Voters May Tip the Scales in 2020

Atlanta—Today AARP Georgia released the full survey results that shows voters age 65-plus are not a lock for either of Georgia’s U.S. Senate candidates. Sen. David Perdue (56%) leads Senate Candidate Jon Ossoff (42%) among voters 65-plus. In the presidential race, President Donald Trump (54%) leads former Vice President Joe Biden (42%) among voters 65-plus.

The survey finds that support for Social Security and Medicare unify voters from both parties. When considering voters age 50 and over, a significant majority of those from the Peach State say that Social Security (85%) and Medicare (92%) are important issues when deciding their vote for the U.S. Senate. A majority of voters from both parties say that Social Security (93% Dem., 84% Rep.) and Medicare (92% Dem., 74% Rep.) are important to their Senate vote and would also be more likely to vote for a candidate who will stand up for these programs and lower drug costs (90% Dem., 88% Rep.) and increase access to more affordable long-term care (89% Dem., 79% Rep.).

“Candidates who want to win in 2020 must talk about the issues that matter to voters 50 and over – like voting safely from home or in-person, preventing cuts to Social Security and Medicare and lowering prescription drug prices,” said AARP Georgia State Director Debra-Tyler-Horton.  “Most importantly, Georgians are casting their ballots earlier than ever and candidates need to address their concerns now.”

The Georgia poll findings include:

• Voters 65-plus plan to vote by absentee ballot (37%) or early in-person (35%) in large numbers this year, while voters 50 to 64 plan to vote by absentee ballot (21%) or early in-person (45%) in large numbers this year.
  
• A statistical tie (62%) of 65-plus and 50 to 64 voters worry about themselves or family contracting coronavirus
  
• Nearly half (47%) of voters 65-plus would agree to be vaccinated if an FDA-approved vaccine to prevent coronavirus was available right now at no cost. Voters age 50 to 64 are less likely (36%).
  
• 46% of voters 65-plus say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who is focused on keeping families healthy and reducing the spread of Coronavirus. In comparison, 46% of voters age 50 to 64 are more likely to vote for a candidate who is focused on rebuilding the economy by reopening businesses and getting people back to work.
  

Methodology Statement

Fabrizio Ward and Hart Research conducted a statewide survey of 800 likely general election voters from August 30-September 5, 2020 in Georgia, with an oversample of 400 likely general election voters 50+ for a total of 758 voters 50+ and an oversample of 400 likely general election African-American/Black voters 50+ for a total of 597 likely general election Black voters 50+.

• Sixty-six percent of the interviews were conducted via cell phone and 34% via landline, using live operators.
• Geography was matched to past voter turnout in recent Presidential elections.
• The universe of Black voters 50+ was weighted on gender and age based off targets from voter file and then weighted down into its share within the full 50+ universe.
  
• The 50+ universe was weighted on gender, age and party affiliation based off targets from voter file, and then weighted down into its share within the full voter universe.
  
• The full universe was weighted to targets on gender, age, party affiliation, race/ethnicity and education, which were derived from voter file data, recent exit polls and the Census.
  
• Respondents were randomly selected from lists of all registered voters.
  
• The margin of sampling error at the 95% confidence interval for 800 voters is ±3.5%; 758 voters 50+ is ±3.6%; 597 Black voters 50+ is ± 4.0%.
  

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About AARP AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.