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POLICY · OTHER · #3055

NBC/SSRS exit polls: AI and data centers ranked last among 2026 midterm voter priorities

Exit polls conducted by NBC News and SSRS after the 2026 U.S. midterms found that 56% of respondents said AI and data center expansion were a decisive or important factor in their vote, placing the issue last among five topics surveyed (government corruption 90%, cost of living 89%, war in Iran 74%, immigration enforcement 73%). Public interest in AI has risen recently but still lagged other concerns by a wide margin.

KEY POINTS

  1. Exit polls conducted by NBC News and SSRS after the 2026 U.S.
  2. midterms found that 56% of respondents said AI and data center expansion were a decisive or important factor in their vote, placing the issue last among five topics surveyed (government corruption 90%, cost of living 89%, war in Iran 74%, immigration enforcement 73%).
  3. Public interest in AI has risen recently but still lagged other concerns by a wide margin.

WHY IT MATTERS

Shows that despite recent media attention, AI ranks low on voter priority lists, which could temper short-term political pressure for AI-focused policies.

SOURCES & TIMELINE

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Exit polls show AI ranked last among voter priorities in the 2026 U.S. midterms

AI and data center expansion ranked last among voter priorities in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. In exit polls by NBC News and SSRS, 56 percent of respondents called AI and data centers a decisive or important factor in how they voted. That put the issue at the bottom of the five topics surveyed. Government corruption led at 90 percent, followed by cost of living at 89 percent, the war in Iran at 74 percent, and i…

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