Abortion, immigration trail as top issues for voters in initial exit polling

Initial exit polling conducted by CNN Tuesday shows abortion and immigration were less critical issues for Americans when deciding how to vote.

Just 14% said access to abortion was a key factor in how they chose to vote. The issue trailed behind the economy at 31% and democracy at 35%.

Immigration was a critical issue for only 11% of voters. Foreign policy came in last with just 4%.

The findings are significant for Vice President Kamala Harris, who placed substantial emphasis on abortion rights in her election bid. Only 20% of self-identified Harris voters called abortion their top issue, according to CNN's results.

Harris in July wrote on X that Trump would "ban abortion" if elected in 2024. The vice president asserted she and President Joe Biden will "do everything in our power to stop him and restore women's reproductive freedom."

X owner Elon Musk, a strong supporter of Trump, jeered Harris over the remark by asking "when will politicians, or at least the intern who runs their account, learn that lying on this platform doesn't work anymore?"

The vice president did not attend this year's Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in person, instead sending a video message to the October event. Democrats have historically found the Catholic fundraiser's attendees to be a tough crowd primarily due to politics surrounding abortion.

Trump, meanwhile, centered much of his campaign around the issue of immigration. After casting his vote Tuesday morning in Palm Beach, Florida, the former president claimed voters would likely find immigration to be a key problem facing the country.

"I think [immigration] was a big issue," he said. "To me, that was the biggest issue. I may be wrong, and a lot of people said inflation is a disaster, but I think it's the second issue. I think the first is the border."