Tim Mellman | Managing Newsletter Editor

In an exit poll conducted by Student Life, 448 voters at the WashU Athletic Complex overwhelmingly supported Democrats, including Kamala Harris for President, Lucas Kunce for Senate, and Wesley Bell for the House of Representatives. Abortion was a key issue for a majority of voters, and more than 90% of respondents supported Amendment 3, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the state’s constitution. However, respondents were split on Amendment 2, which would legalize sports gambling.

For 13 hours on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Student Life surveyed 448 voters after they voted in the 2024 general election. According to Stephanie Kurtzman — executive director of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement — 1,600 voters cast their ballots or provisional ballots at the Athletic Complex, an increase from 949 in 2022 and 1,156 in 2020.

85.5% of the poll’s respondents were WashU students. Survey respondents were majority female (64.7% female, 32.9% male). 67.3% of respondents were white, 22.6% were Asian, 11% were Hispanic, and 9.6% were Black.

74.7% of respondents identified as Democrats, while 16.6% said they were Independents, and 5.6% identified as Republicans. 88.8% of voters voted for Harris, 6.7% voted for Donald Trump, and 2% voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. 89.5% voted for Democrat Lucas Kunce over Republican incumbent Josh Hawley for Senate, 87.2% of respondents picked Democrat Crystal Quade over Republican Mike Kehoe for Governor, and 86.8% picked Democrat Elad Gross over Republican incumbent Andrew Bailey for Attorney General. 

The Associated Press called the presidential election for Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon. Democrats Kunce, Quade and Gross also lost their elections. 

82.6% of respondents preferred Democrat Wesley Bell in the race for the House, while 7.6% picked Republican Andrew Jones Jr., and 3.1% picked Don Fitz of the Green Party. The Associated Press called the race for Bell on Wednesday. 

Missouri’s election has also received attention for its amendments and propositions. Amendment 3 is overwhelmingly popular among respondents, as 91.3% said they voted yes, and it passed with Missouri voters. Abortion was deemed the most impactful issue, with 50.8% of respondents selecting it as the issue they cared most about. Other important issues were healthcare (9.4%), the economy (8.9%), racial and ethnic equality (6.7%), and climate change (4.9%).

Tim Mellman | Managing Newsletter Editor

While respondents overwhelmingly voted for Amendment 3, they were split on Amendment 2, voting slightly in opposition to legalizing sports gambling. 46.1% of voters voted to legalize sports gambling in the state, 47% voted against the amendment, and 6.9% abstained from voting on the amendment. As of Wednesday night, the Associated Press has not called this race. 

A majority of respondents also indicated that they would vote “No” on Amendments 6 and 7. 69.4% said they would vote “No” on Amendment 6, which would authorize usage of court fees for salaries and pensions of law enforcement personnel. Opponents of Amendment 6 say it would create a set of incentives that tie pensions to the number of arrests and prosecutions made.

72% of respondents chose “No” on Amendment 7, which would prohibit ranked-choice voting or approval voting in the state of Missouri. In addition, the amendment would explicitly prohibit non-citizens from voting in Missouri elections, something that is already prohibited by state law. Amendment 6 failed, while Amendment 7 passed. 

Respondents overwhelmingly voted “Yes” on Proposition A, which would increase Missouri’s minimum wage to $15/hour by 2026 if passed. It would also require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, and was passed by Missouri voters.

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 10:00p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, to reflect the results of a number of races.