South Carolina Exit Poll: President

What are exit polls?

Exit polls are surveys conducted on Election Day at polling places across the country. People are asked who they voted for and what issues mattered most to them.


Learn more about exit polls and methodology.

Are you:

(2,120 Respondents)
Candidate order
Are you:TrumpHaleyOther
Male (51%)
1,081 respondents
63%
36%
-
Female (49%)
1,039 respondents
57%
43%
-

Are you:

(2,109 Respondents)
Candidate order
Are you:TrumpHaleyOther
White (93%)
1,961 respondents
61%
39%
-
Black (3%)
63 respondents
-
-
-
Hispanic/Latino (3%)
63 respondents
-
-
-
Asian (1%)
21 respondents
-
-
-
Other (1%)
21 respondents
-
-
-

Are you:

(2,109 Respondents)
Candidate order
Are you:TrumpHaleyOther
White (93%)
1,961 respondents
61%
39%
-
Non-White (7%)
148 respondents
53%
46%
-

In which age group are you?

(2,116 Respondents)
Candidate order
In which age group are you?TrumpHaleyOther
17-29 (7%)
148 respondents
65%
33%
-
30-44 (16%)
339 respondents
57%
42%
-
45-64 (46%)
973 respondents
60%
40%
-
65 or over (31%)
656 respondents
62%
38%
-

In which age group are you?

(2,116 Respondents)
Candidate order
In which age group are you?TrumpHaleyOther
17-24 (4%)
85 respondents
-
-
-
25-29 (3%)
63 respondents
-
-
-
30-39 (10%)
212 respondents
55%
44%
-
40-49 (14%)
296 respondents
60%
40%
-
50-64 (39%)
825 respondents
60%
40%
-
65 or over (31%)
656 respondents
62%
38%
-

To which age group do you belong?

(2,116 Respondents)
Candidate order
To which age group do you belong?TrumpHaleyOther
17-44 (22%)
466 respondents
59%
40%
-
45+ (78%)
1,650 respondents
60%
39%
-

Which best describes your education? You have:

(2,100 Respondents)
Candidate order
Which best describes your education? You have:TrumpHaleyOther
Never attended college (17%)
357 respondents
79%
20%
-
Attended college but received no degree (24%)
504 respondents
71%
29%
-
Associate's degree (AA or AS) (16%)
336 respondents
64%
36%
-
Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) (26%)
546 respondents
49%
50%
-
An advanced degree after a bachelor's degree (such as JD, MA, MBA, MD, PhD) (17%)
357 respondents
40%
59%
-

What was the last grade of school you completed?

(2,100 Respondents)
Candidate order
What was the last grade of school you completed?TrumpHaleyOther
College graduate (44%)
924 respondents
45%
54%
-
No college degree (56%)
1,176 respondents
72%
28%
-

Education by race

(2,085 Respondents)
Candidate order
Education by raceTrumpHaleyOther
White college graduates (40%)
834 respondents
45%
54%
-
White non-college graduates (52%)
1,084 respondents
73%
27%
-
Non White college graduates (3%)
63 respondents
-
-
-
Non White non-college graduates (4%)
83 respondents
-
-
-

2023 total family income:

(921 Respondents)
Candidate order
2023 total family income:TrumpHaleyOther
Under $50,000 (22%)
203 respondents
72%
27%
-
$50,000-$99,999 (38%)
350 respondents
61%
39%
-
$100,000 or more (40%)
368 respondents
50%
49%
-

Before today, had you ever voted in a Republican presidential primary?

(991 Respondents)
Candidate order
Before today, had you ever voted in a Republican presidential primary?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (84%)
832 respondents
63%
36%
-
No (16%)
159 respondents
41%
59%
-

No matter how you voted today, do you usually think of yourself as a:

(2,033 Respondents)
Candidate order
No matter how you voted today, do you usually think of yourself as a:TrumpHaleyOther
Democrat (5%)
102 respondents
-
-
-
Republican (68%)
1,382 respondents
70%
30%
-
Independent (22%)
447 respondents
37%
62%
-
Something else (6%)
122 respondents
72%
27%
-

On most political matters, do you consider yourself:

(2,023 Respondents)
Candidate order
On most political matters, do you consider yourself:TrumpHaleyOther
Very conservative (40%)
809 respondents
84%
16%
-
Somewhat conservative (37%)
749 respondents
57%
43%
-
Moderate (20%)
405 respondents
28%
71%
-
Liberal (3%)
61 respondents
-
-
-

On most political matters, do you consider yourself:

(2,023 Respondents)
Candidate order
On most political matters, do you consider yourself:TrumpHaleyOther
Liberal (3%)
61 respondents
-
-
-
Moderate (20%)
405 respondents
28%
71%
-
Conservative (77%)
1,558 respondents
71%
29%
-

On most political matters, do you consider yourself:

(2,023 Respondents)
Candidate order
On most political matters, do you consider yourself:TrumpHaleyOther
Conservative (77%)
1,558 respondents
71%
29%
-
Moderate or liberal (23%)
465 respondents
25%
74%
-

How often do you attend religious services?

(991 Respondents)
Candidate order
How often do you attend religious services?TrumpHaleyOther
More than once a week (22%)
218 respondents
69%
30%
-
Once a week (28%)
277 respondents
58%
42%
-
A few times a month (11%)
109 respondents
62%
37%
-
A few times a year (25%)
248 respondents
57%
43%
-
Never (13%)
129 respondents
50%
49%
-

How often do you attend religious services?

(991 Respondents)
Candidate order
How often do you attend religious services?TrumpHaleyOther
Weekly (49%)
486 respondents
63%
36%
-
Occasionally (36%)
357 respondents
59%
41%
-
Never (13%)
129 respondents
50%
49%
-

White evangelical or white born-again Christians

(1,133 Respondents)
Candidate order
White evangelical or white born-again ChristiansTrumpHaleyOther
White evangelical or white born-again Christian (61%)
691 respondents
71%
29%
-
All others (39%)
442 respondents
44%
55%
-

Does anyone in your household own a gun?

(966 Respondents)
Candidate order
Does anyone in your household own a gun?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (72%)
696 respondents
66%
33%
-
No (28%)
270 respondents
40%
59%
-

Have you ever served in the U.S. military?

(1,074 Respondents)
Candidate order
Have you ever served in the U.S. military?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (17%)
183 respondents
65%
35%
-
No (83%)
891 respondents
58%
41%
-

Do you work full-time for pay?

(1,128 Respondents)
Candidate order
Do you work full-time for pay?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (58%)
654 respondents
61%
39%
-
No (42%)
474 respondents
61%
39%
-

How do you feel about the way things are going in the country today?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
How do you feel about the way things are going in the country today?TrumpHaleyOther
Enthusiastic (2%)
19 respondents
-
-
-
Satisfied, but not enthusiastic (11%)
106 respondents
-
-
-
Dissatisfied, but not angry (43%)
416 respondents
47%
52%
-
Angry (43%)
416 respondents
81%
18%
-

How do you feel about the way things are going in the country today?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
How do you feel about the way things are going in the country today?TrumpHaleyOther
Enthusiastic or satisfied (13%)
126 respondents
22%
77%
-
Dissatisfied or angry (86%)
832 respondents
64%
35%
-

Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:TrumpHaleyOther
Excellent (3%)
29 respondents
-
-
-
Good (14%)
136 respondents
13%
86%
-
Not so good (36%)
348 respondents
49%
50%
-
Poor (46%)
445 respondents
84%
15%
-

Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
Do you think the condition of the nation's economy is:TrumpHaleyOther
Excellent or good (17%)
165 respondents
11%
88%
-
Not so good or poor (82%)
794 respondents
69%
30%
-

Which best describes your family's financial situation?

(991 Respondents)
Candidate order
Which best describes your family's financial situation?TrumpHaleyOther
Getting ahead financially (23%)
228 respondents
45%
54%
-
Holding steady financially (58%)
575 respondents
61%
38%
-
Falling behind financially (17%)
168 respondents
74%
26%
-

In world affairs, do you think the United States should take:

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
In world affairs, do you think the United States should take:TrumpHaleyOther
A more active role (32%)
310 respondents
57%
42%
-
A less active role (46%)
445 respondents
75%
25%
-
About the same role as now (19%)
184 respondents
23%
76%
-

Which ONE of these four issues mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (CHECK ONLY ONE)

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Which ONE of these four issues mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (CHECK ONLY ONE)TrumpHaleyOther
Foreign policy (13%)
142 respondents
26%
74%
-
Abortion (10%)
109 respondents
41%
58%
-
Immigration (36%)
393 respondents
80%
20%
-
Economy (33%)
360 respondents
62%
38%
-

Which ONE of these four candidate qualities mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (CHECK ONLY ONE)

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Which ONE of these four candidate qualities mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (CHECK ONLY ONE)TrumpHaleyOther
Shares my values (32%)
349 respondents
63%
36%
-
Has the right temperament (17%)
185 respondents
4%
96%
-
Fights for people like me (35%)
382 respondents
89%
11%
-
Can defeat Joe Biden (13%)
142 respondents
55%
45%
-

Would you favor or oppose a federal law banning most or all abortions nationwide?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Would you favor or oppose a federal law banning most or all abortions nationwide?TrumpHaleyOther
Favor banning (51%)
556 respondents
77%
23%
-
Oppose banning (44%)
480 respondents
42%
58%
-

Should most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. be:

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
Should most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. be:TrumpHaleyOther
Offered a chance to apply for legal status (32%)
310 respondents
29%
70%
-
Deported to the countries they came from (65%)
629 respondents
74%
25%
-

Was your vote for president mainly:

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
Was your vote for president mainly:TrumpHaleyOther
For your candidate (79%)
765 respondents
70%
30%
-
Against their opponent (20%)
194 respondents
18%
81%
-

If Nikki Haley won the nomination, would you be:

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Nikki Haley won the nomination, would you be:TrumpHaleyOther
Satisfied (46%)
502 respondents
21%
79%
-
Dissatisfied (53%)
578 respondents
96%
4%
-

If Donald Trump won the nomination, would you be:

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Donald Trump won the nomination, would you be:TrumpHaleyOther
Satisfied (68%)
742 respondents
87%
13%
-
Dissatisfied (31%)
338 respondents
3%
96%
-

Who do you trust more to handle the economy?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Who do you trust more to handle the economy?TrumpHaleyOther
Nikki Haley (33%)
360 respondents
3%
96%
-
Donald Trump (65%)
709 respondents
91%
9%
-

Who do you trust more to handle border security?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Who do you trust more to handle border security?TrumpHaleyOther
Nikki Haley (31%)
338 respondents
2%
98%
-
Donald Trump (67%)
731 respondents
89%
10%
-

Which candidate has the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Which candidate has the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?TrumpHaleyOther
Only Nikki Haley (29%)
316 respondents
2%
98%
-
Only Donald Trump (35%)
382 respondents
96%
4%
-
Both of them (33%)
360 respondents
78%
21%
-
Neither of them (2%)
22 respondents
-
-
-

Does Nikki Haley have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Does Nikki Haley have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?TrumpHaleyOther
Nikki Haley does (62%)
676 respondents
42%
57%
-
Nikki Haley does not (37%)
404 respondents
92%
7%
-

Does Donald Trump have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Does Donald Trump have the physical and mental health needed to serve effectively as president?TrumpHaleyOther
Donald Trump does (68%)
742 respondents
87%
12%
-
Donald Trump does not (31%)
338 respondents
2%
97%
-

If Nikki Haley is nominated, how likely is it that she would defeat Joe Biden in November?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Nikki Haley is nominated, how likely is it that she would defeat Joe Biden in November?TrumpHaleyOther
Very likely (26%)
252 respondents
29%
69%
-
Somewhat likely (34%)
329 respondents
49%
50%
-
Not too likely (21%)
203 respondents
80%
20%
-
Not at all likely (18%)
174 respondents
95%
5%
-

If Nikki Haley is nominated, how likely is it that she would beat Joe Biden in November?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Nikki Haley is nominated, how likely is it that she would beat Joe Biden in November?TrumpHaleyOther
Likely (59%)
571 respondents
41%
59%
-
Not likely (39%)
378 respondents
87%
13%
-

If Donald Trump is nominated, how likely is it that he would defeat Joe Biden in November?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Donald Trump is nominated, how likely is it that he would defeat Joe Biden in November?TrumpHaleyOther
Very likely (58%)
561 respondents
84%
16%
-
Somewhat likely (23%)
223 respondents
38%
60%
-
Not too likely (10%)
97 respondents
-
-
-
Not at all likely (7%)
68 respondents
-
-
-

If Donald Trump is nominated, how likely is it that he would defeat Joe Biden in November?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Donald Trump is nominated, how likely is it that he would defeat Joe Biden in November?TrumpHaleyOther
Likely (81%)
784 respondents
71%
29%
-
Not likely (17%)
165 respondents
4%
94%
-

If Donald Trump were to be convicted of a crime, would you consider him fit to be president?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
If Donald Trump were to be convicted of a crime, would you consider him fit to be president?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (60%)
655 respondents
90%
10%
-
No (36%)
393 respondents
12%
88%
-

Do you think that Joe Biden legitimately won the presidency in 2020?

(1,091 Respondents)
Candidate order
Do you think that Joe Biden legitimately won the presidency in 2020?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (36%)
393 respondents
18%
82%
-
No (61%)
666 respondents
87%
13%
-

Do you consider yourself part of the MAGA movement?

(968 Respondents)
Candidate order
Do you consider yourself part of the MAGA movement?TrumpHaleyOther
Yes (41%)
397 respondents
86%
13%
-
No (54%)
523 respondents
38%
61%
-

Is your opinion of Tim Scott:

(1,135 Respondents)
Candidate order
Is your opinion of Tim Scott:TrumpHaleyOther
Favorable (69%)
783 respondents
71%
28%
-
Unfavorable (24%)
272 respondents
31%
69%
-

When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential primary?

(1,135 Respondents)
Candidate order
When did you finally decide for whom to vote in the presidential primary?TrumpHaleyOther
Just today (4%)
45 respondents
-
-
-
In the last week (5%)
57 respondents
-
-
-
Earlier this month (7%)
79 respondents
-
-
-
In January (7%)
79 respondents
-
-
-
Before that (77%)
874 respondents
69%
31%
-

Time: Last week/Earlier than that

(1,135 Respondents)
Candidate order
Time: Last week/Earlier than thatTrumpHaleyOther
In the last week (9%)
102 respondents
-
-
-
Earlier than that (90%)
1,022 respondents
63%
37%
-

Time: This month/Earlier than that

(1,135 Respondents)
Candidate order
Time: This month/Earlier than thatTrumpHaleyOther
This month (16%)
182 respondents
32%
67%
-
Earlier than that (83%)
942 respondents
66%
34%
-

Population of area, three categories

(2,126 Respondents)
Candidate order
Population of area, three categoriesTrumpHaleyOther
City over 50,000 (8%)
170 respondents
42%
57%
-
Suburbs (70%)
1,488 respondents
61%
39%
-
Small city and Rural (21%)
446 respondents
64%
35%
-

Geo Stratum Code

(2,126 Respondents)
Candidate order
Geo Stratum CodeTrumpHaleyOther
Upcountry (29%)
617 respondents
64%
35%
-
Piedmont (14%)
298 respondents
64%
36%
-
Central (18%)
383 respondents
57%
42%
-
Pee Dee/Waccamaw (17%)
361 respondents
69%
31%
-
Low Country (22%)
468 respondents
48%
51%
-