National Exit Polls -- Corruption at Top of Voters' Minds

For the first time today, we have some actual data on the composition of the national electorate.

As reported by CNN, exit polling has begun to trickle out and -- at least in partial returns -- the data suggests corruption may be a bigger issue on voters' minds than previously imagined.

Asked what issues were "extremely important" in casting their ballots, 42 percent of voters cited corruption while 40 percent said terrorism. The economy was cited by 39 percent, and 37 percent mentioned the war in Iraq, according to the CNN report.

The electorate also appears to have been more strongly swayed by national issues rather than local ones. Fully 62 percent said national issues were more influential in how they voted; 33 percent said local issues trumped national concerns.

REMEMBER: These are the second wave of exit polls, released at 5 p.m. ET, and therefore are incomplete. The only way to really know what is going to happen is to wait until actual votes are counted.

What are exit polls? Read this and this.

By Chris Cillizza |  November 7, 2006; 6:00 PM ET  | Category:  House , Senate
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