# A candidate's competence matters most in Americans' presidential votes

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/a-candidates-competence-matters-most-in-americans-presidential-votes/

> Indexed question in Politics.

## Reading

When Americans recall what shaped their last presidential vote, a candidate's competence stands out: about a quarter (26%) point to the candidate's competency as the biggest influence, according to an April 2024 Verasight survey.

Nothing else draws as much, with personal economic concerns accounting for 17% and broader economic conditions 14%, while 12% have never voted for president and 11% cite partisan loyalty. Smaller shares name the candidate's personal image (6%), international issues (5%) or the candidate's popularity (3%), and 7% give some other reason.

## Topline

The last time you participated in an Presidential election, which of the following was the most influential to your vote?

A candidate's competence matters most in Americans' presidential votes.

- Candidate’s competency: 25.8%
- Personal Economic issues: 17.2%
- National or macroeconomic issues: 13.8%
- I have not voted in a Presidential election: 11.7%
- Partisan issues (because you always voted for the candidate of your preferred party): 10.7%
- Other: 7.1%
- Candidate’s personal image: 5.8%
- International issues: 4.9%
- Candidate’s popularity: 3.0%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2024-04-10 → 2024-04-15
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: 2
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: module-specific weights: weight_m1 for module 1, weight_m2 for module 2
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2024.tiiny.co#influential-factors-in-previous-presidential-vote](https://verasight-mpsa-2024.tiiny.co#influential-factors-in-previous-presidential-vote)

## Citation

Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2024-037, fielded April 10-15, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-mpsa-2024.tiiny.co#influential-factors-in-previous-presidential-vote](https://verasight-mpsa-2024.tiiny.co#influential-factors-in-previous-presidential-vote)