# Voter priorities before 2026

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/politics/voter-priorities-before-2026/
Published: 2026-05-11

> Featured topic in Politics.

Inflation and healthcare are the leading vote considerations, and nearly 80% say voting in the next presidential election will be very important.

## Overview: Voter priorities

Inflation and healthcare are the clearest issue priorities in this survey. About 72% say inflation matters when they vote, and 70% say healthcare does.

That does not make voting a one-issue choice. Most adults say they consider several issues together, and nearly 80% say voting in the next presidential election will be very important.

## Inflation and healthcare lead the issue list

Inflation is the most selected voting issue at about 72%, with healthcare close behind at 70%.

Immigration, abortion, and climate also draw substantial shares, which makes the issue picture broad rather than centered on one topic.

## Most voters describe a multi-issue decision

About 58% say they usually consider several issues together when thinking about their vote.

The stated importance of voting is also high: nearly 80% say voting in the next presidential election will be very important.

## Expectations for 2026 lean Republican, but not by a landslide

Registration is closely split between Republicans and Democrats, with a large unaffiliated group also present.

Asked which party will win the most House seats in 2026, 51% say Republicans and 43% say Democrats.

## Supporting evidence

### 72% include inflation and 70% include healthcare when voting.

Question: Which of the following issues do you consider when casting your vote in local, state, or federal elections?

Note: Shows which issues adults say they consider when voting.

Topline:

- Inflation: 72.3%
- Healthcare: 69.8%
- Immigration: 57.8%
- Abortion: 50.1%
- Climate and the environment: 43.7%

### 80% say voting in the next presidential election is very important.

Question: How important will it be to vote in the next presidential election?

Note: Establishes the strength of stated voting importance.

Topline:

- Very important: 79.7%
- Important: 14.7%
- Not very important: 5.6%

### 51% expect Republicans to win the most House seats in 2026.

Question: Thinking about the upcoming election in 2026, which party do you think will win the most seats in the US House of Representatives?

Note: Shows expectations for which party will win the most House seats in 2026.

Topline:

- Republicans: 50.8%
- Democrats: 43.4%
- Some other party: 5.8%

## 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: 2025-09-22 → 2025-09-29
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.3%
- Module: Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [Which of the following issues do you consider when casting your vote in local, state, or federal elections?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#voter-considerations-in-elections): reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025: Shows which issues adults say they consider when voting.
- [How important will it be to vote in the next presidential election?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#importance-of-voting-in-the-next-presidential-election): reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025: Establishes the strength of stated voting importance.
- [In thinking about your vote, do you usually:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#voting-considerations): reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025: Shows whether voters describe their choice as single-issue or multi-issue.
- [Are you registered to vote, or not?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#voter-registration-status): reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025: Adds registration context across Republican, Democratic, unaffiliated, and other voters.
- [Thinking about the upcoming election in 2026, which party do you think will win the most seats in the US House of Representatives?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#predicted-party-winners-for-2026-us-house-elections): reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025: Shows expectations for which party will win the most House seats in 2026.

## Citation

Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2025-119, fielded September 22-29, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#voter-considerations-in-elections](https://reports.verasight.io/r/apsa-2025#voter-considerations-in-elections)