New survey results from the AARP shed some light on the top concerns of Michigan seniors and how these issues are likely to shape their voting decisions in the November election.
Voters 50-plus will be the decisive force in the battle for Congress, with higher turnout and motivation than younger voters, especially in battleground states like Michigan.
Jeff Liszt of Impact Research, a Democratic public opinion firm, underscores that a significant portion of older voters will be living on fixed incomes, making Social Security a critical issue.
“61% said that it is or will be a major source of income for them,” Liszt said. “Another 29% said that it will be at least a minor source of income. So you’ve got 90% of voters over 50 who are going to depend on Social Security or are depending on Social Security.”
Another key issue for Michiganders over 50 is caregiving. More than one-third of Michigan women in this age group are providing care for at least one family member or friend with a health condition or disability. The poll finds family caregivers currently lean Republican by 11 points.
