A newly-released Politico-AARP poll shows Pennsylvania voters age 50 and over believe health care and protecting the future of Social Security will be the most important issues in determining how they cast ballots in next month’s mid-term elections.
“Voters age 50 and over will once again most likely decide the mid-term elections, said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP’s Pennsylvania state director. “Candidates that connect with older voters should enjoy a significant advantage at the ballot box next month.”
AARP has teamed with Politico to create a series titled “ The Deciders,” which integrates original polling focused on 50-plus voters, reporting, data analysis and cutting-edge data visualization tools built by Politico’s specialized interactive team. The fourth edition in the series is focused on Pennsylvania, a key election battleground state. Other recent polls surveyed voters in Arizona, Florida, and Ohio.
The Pennsylvania poll findings include:
A significant majority of 50-plus voters say Social Security (96 percent), health care (97 percent) and Medicare (95 percent) are “very important or somewhat important” issues as they cast their vote in November;
Voters age 50 and older think it is “very or somewhat important” for elected officials to take action to lower health care (92 percent) and prescription drug costs (91 percent) and increase access to health care (88 percent);
84 percent of 50-plus voters believe increasing health insurance costs for older Americans would make insurance unaffordable for those who need it most;
81 percent of 50-plus voters think it is unfair to make those with pre-existing conditions pay more for their health care;
80 percent of 50-plus voters are “very or somewhat” concerned about heroin and opioid abuse in Pennsylvania.The Politico-AARP poll, conducted by Morning Consult, surveyed 1,188 registered voters in Pennsylvania from October 1-2, 2018 with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. For voters 50 and older, the poll surveyed 505 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.
In addition to the Politico partnership, AARP launched “Be The Difference. Vote™,” a comprehensive voter engagement campaign to encourage Americans age 50-plus to go to the polls in the 2018 midterm elections. The campaign has highlighted issues of particular importance to older voters, including Medicare, Social Security, financial security, prescription drug costs and family caregiving. You can also find AARP’s video voter guide for the 2018 Pennsylvania Governor’s race at www.aarp.org/pa.
AARP recently launched “Raise Your Voice,” the nation’s first comprehensive advocacy and voting app for smart speakers. The voice-enabled experience is designed to help Americans age 50-plus to use their smart speakers to engage on a range of advocacy issues, as well as in nonpartisan voter education and support.
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