**Future of Democracy Dominates Voter Concerns in Historic Election**

In a highly charged presidential election, American voters were deeply motivated by concerns over the economy, immigration, and the future of democracy. According to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of more than 110,000 voters across the country, many were searching for significant change as they selected between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The survey revealed that about 40% of voters identified the economy and jobs as the most pressing issues, with lingering frustration over inflation leading to higher costs for groceries, housing, and gasoline. Additionally, 20% of voters pointed to immigration as their primary concern, while 10% focused on abortion.

Economic challenges were a major point of contention in the campaigns. Trump, representing the Republican party, framed the election as a critical assessment of the Biden-Harris administration's performance, particularly on inflation and border security. He suggested tariffs and increased oil production as solutions to rejuvenate the economy. Conversely, Harris, the Democratic candidate, criticized Trump's approach, advocating instead for tax breaks for parents, assistance for new homebuyers, and support for start-up companies as means to address economic woes.

While Trump held an edge over Harris regarding economic and immigration issues, Harris was perceived as the stronger candidate on abortion matters. She emphasized access to abortion and women’s healthcare as fundamental freedoms, contrasting with Trump's view that abortion policies should be determined by individual states after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Despite these differing viewpoints, a remarkable consensus emerged: approximately 80% of voters expressed a desire for substantial changes in the country's governance, with about a quarter calling for complete and total upheaval. Nonetheless, what this change should entail was a point of contention, reflecting the deep divisions within the electorate.

Harris, a woman of color, brought a unique perspective to the race, having stepped in as the Democratic candidate after President Joe Biden withdrew due to age concerns. On the other hand, Trump, at 78, dealt with the complexities of facing two assassination attempts and multiple felony convictions related to his business activities.

In this extraordinary campaign season, the future of democracy stood out as the predominant issue influencing voters, overshadowing other significant factors such as inflation, immigration policies, abortion, free speech, and even the legal troubles and security incidents involving the candidates.