New Poll of Registered Senior Voters Reveals Surprising Views of President Barack Obama and the 2016 Presidential Candidates

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Marking one year to the 2016 general elections, Bring The Vote Home (BTVH) - a nationwide initiative that is surveying seniors on a wide range of issues while empowering them to engage fully in America's electoral process – today released the results of polling data that surveyed more than 2,000 registered voters over age 65. The data found broadly-held concerns that cut across party lines: more than six in 10 respondents (63 percent) disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as President and nearly seven in 10 seniors (69 percent) think 2016 Presidential candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties are not paying enough attention to issues affecting seniors.

On the issues of the economy, national security, health care, seniors, women, education and energy, 38 percent of senior registered voters said candidates' position on seniors' issues is of greatest importance to them when casting a vote for Senators or Congressmen. The health of the nation's economy came in second, with 25 percent of voters most concerned about this issue area.

When respondents were asked about each of the leading Democratic and Republican candidates individually, the majority of respondents expressed a surprising lack of confidence in their ability to handle issues affecting seniors. For example, 55 percent of senior voters do not trust Hilary Clinton to handle seniors' issues and 48 percent do not think Donald Trump is up to the task. These views carry over to the national political parties as well, with 41 percent of senior voters saying they trust the Democratic Party and 42 percent saying they trust the Republican Party to best handle seniors' issues.

"These poll results should grab the attention of every candidate's campaign as they strategize for the coming year," stated Eric Berger, CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. "This polling data reveals that American seniors want a candidate who will be an advocate for them on issues specific to those over 65, including healthcare."

The BTVH poll also concluded that individual states have room to improve helping seniors cast their vote, with only four in 10 seniors indicating their state does a good job educating homebound seniors on how to register or obtain an absentee ballot.

For this reason, BTVH has launched a new website that offers seniors, disabled Americans, and their healthcare clinicians the information they need to register to vote and receive an absentee ballot. BTVH was originally developed so that Medicare home health patients (who are homebound) could fully participate in the democratic process by enabling them register to vote and obtain absentee ballots. BTVH has expanded to offer additional resources, including information about their lawmakers' views on home health and senior polling data on the views and opinions of American seniors.

"America's seniors dedicated their working lives to protecting and building our country," added Berger. "That is why the Bring The Vote Home initiative is dedicated to ensuring that their voices are heard.  Through its voter registration, absentee ballot, candidate information, and monthly polling programs, Bring The Vote Home is working to enable all seniors – homebound and otherwise – to be full and equal participants in America's democratic process."

The BTVH survey was conducted as part of a Morning Consult Poll from October 29 to November 1, 2015. The poll surveyed 2,003 registered voters, age 65 and older, and has a margin error of two percentage points.

To view the National Seniors Poll Charts, click here.

To read the National Seniors Poll Results Memo, click here.

Bring the Vote Home is a nationwide initiative that is surveying seniors on a wide range of issues while empowering them to engage fully in America's electoral process.  To learn more, visit bringthevotehome.org.

SOURCE Bring The Vote Home

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http://www.bringthevotehome.org/