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AARP 2002 Election Surveys: Why Older Voters Voted the Way They Did
By: Jeffrey Love, Ph.D., AARP Knowledge Management; Gretchen Straw, AARP Knowledge Management; Joanne Binette, M.P.A., AARP Knowledge Management; Rachelle Cummins, M.A., AARP Knowledge Management; S. Kathi Brown, AARP Knowledge Management; Curt Davies, AARP Knowledge Management; Anita Stowell-Ritter, AARP Knowledge Management; Katherine Bridges, M.G.S., AARP Knowledge Management; Christine Bechtel, AARP Knowledge Management; William E. Wright, AARP Knowledge Management | November 1, 2002
After the votes have been counted and the victory and concession speeches delivered, there is always the question of why voters cast their ballots the way they did. To find out, AARP asked voters and likely voters age 45 and older to gauge the importance to them of specific domestic issues when deciding which candidate to support. They were also asked how much of a priority they feel Social Security and a Medicare prescription drug benefit should be when Congress returns to Washington in January 2003.
The random telephone surveys were conducted primarily in states with closely contested races either on Election Day 2002 or shortly before. A national sampling of voters was also polled. On average, between 250 and 400 respondents, who were screened for age and their likelihood of voting, were interviewed in each state between November 2 and noon on November 5, 2002. Approximately 1,000 were interviewed for the national survey. The reports were prepared by AARP Knowledge Management staff. For further information, please, contact Jeffrey Love of AARP Knowledge Management at 202/434-6279.
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida (5th Congressional District – west central Florida area north of Tampa Bay)
- Florida (22nd Congressional District – Palm Beach and Broward County area)
- Florida (24th Congressional District – eastern Orlando area)
- Iowa
- Maine
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- National
