Voters are divided on whether democracy and the economy are the biggest concerns in 2024

Voters across the political aisle may differ on whether a strong economy or a functioning democracy will be a bigger concern in the next few years, according to a new report. CBS/YouGov poll.

Fifty percent of all voters polled said a strong economy was their biggest concern, while half of respondents said a functioning democracy was their biggest concern.

Broken down by party identification, 64 percent of Democratic voters say having a functioning democracy is a big concern, and 36 percent say having a strong economy is a big concern. Among Republican voters, 35 percent say a functioning democracy is the most important concern, and 65 percent say a strong economy is the most important concern.

Independent voters were split closely down the middle, with 52 percent saying a functioning democracy was the biggest concern and 48 percent a strong economy.

Among the age groups polled, those 64 or younger were slightly more concerned about a strong economy, with 56 percent of respondents 30 and younger and 54 percent between 30 and 64. But among those 65 and older, only 39 percent chose a strong economy as the most important issue, compared with 61 percent who have a functioning democracy as the most important issue.

2024 election coverage

According to a Quinnipiac poll released last June, the economy and protecting democracy were top concerns among registered voters when deciding who to support in the 2024 presidential election.

The new CBS/YouGov poll comes before the GOP primary officially begins Monday with the Iowa caucuses, where primary candidates vie for the first state's support of the election cycle.

The poll was conducted between January 10-12, 2024, among 2,870 adults in the United States, and has a margin of error of ±2.5 points.