Summarised by Centrist
A recent poll by Axios Vibes and The Harris Poll reveals that 48% of Gen Z voters and 23% of US voters overall have lied about their voting preferences in 2024. 58% of voters said their preferences are private.
“There’s a new social etiquette—people prefer to stay neutral, like Switzerland, to avoid ‘heat,’” says John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll.
The survey also shows that 33% of Americans aren’t close to certain family members due to political beliefs.
Across the political spectrum, 27% of Democrats, 24% of Republicans, and 20% of independents admitted to concealing their true voting intentions. For Gen Z and Millennials, who grew up during an era of heightened political division, self-censorship is common among these generations, with Gerzema noting they may “lie to avoid confrontations” over politics.
Men are more likely to hide their preferences (30%) compared to women (17%), suggesting that social pressure may influence voting behaviours.
The survey also finds that 40% of voters plan to wait until election day to make a final choice, with 8% stating they may decide based on a “gut feeling” at the polls. As Election Day nears, the economy remains a top concern, with 52% of voters identifying it as “extremely important” in their decision.
