A new Gallup poll released Wednesday revealed that 1 in 5 registered voters would not vote for a candidate they disagree with on immigration, a figure that could spell trouble for Donald Trump and others:
In a survey released Wednesday, Gallup found that 20 percent of American voters will only vote for a presidential candidate with whom they agree on the issue of immigration. Another 60 percent of voters consider a candidate’s stance on the hot-button issue “one of many important considerations” to be taken into account when determining who to cast their ballot for.
Immigration, particularly illegal immigration, has been one of the most widely discussed issues in the 2016 election cycle so far. Every major Democratic candidate has publicly declared their support for a pathway to citizenship while the crowded Republican field continues to hold a diverse range of opinions.
The poll revealed some interesting demographic splits, as well:
Republican voters in the same poll said they were nearly 10 percent more likely than registered Democrats to vote for a candidate only if he/she shares their views on immigration with just 16 percent saying it’s “not a major issue.” Hispanic voters were also more likely to weigh a candidate’s position on immigration before declaring their support.
According to the poll, 49 percent of Hispanics believe a candidate’s position on immigration is one of the most important factors to consider on election day, the second largest percentage of any demographic included in the poll.
“In the general election campaign, immigration could work to the detriment of the eventual GOP nominee given immigrants’ and Hispanics’ above-average desire for agreement with their chosen candidate on the immigration issue, coupled with their generally pro-immigration views,” wrote Gallup’s managing editor, Jeffrey Jones.
The poll included responses from roughly 2,000 registered voters ages 18 and older nationwide and has a 4 percent margin of error.
