Since 2020, the Center for Campaign Innovation has conducted a national post-election survey to better understand how voters and donors use technology, consume media, and learn about politics. This longitudinal data gives us valuable insights into the trends shaping campaigns and elections in the United States.
Here are ten key takeaways from this year’s survey.
1. Relational Organizing Gains Momentum
30% of voters reported receiving messages from someone they know—such as a friend or coworker—encouraging them to vote for a candidate.Up from 23% in 2020, this highlights the growth of relational organizing as a voter contact technique.
2. It's Election Month, Not Day
- 65% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day, cementing COVID-era shifts in voting behavior.
3. TikTok Surpasses Twitter/X Among Voters
Daily TikTok usage jumped to 19% in 2024, compared to 7% in 2020.Twitter/X remained flat at 18% daily usage.
4. Local TV News Viewership Declines Sharply
- Only 35% of voters watched local TV news daily in 2024, down from 56% in 2020.
- This decline hits campaigns hard, reducing opportunities for earned and paid media.
5. Texting Overtakes Phone Calls for Voter Contact
67% of voters reported receiving campaign texts in 2024, compared to 38% for phone calls.Texting’s oversaturation and declining phone contact rates pose challenges for voter outreach and polling.
6. One in Four Voters Tune Out News
16% of voters don’t seek out news or information about current events.Another 7% actively avoid the news—a reminder that not all voters are engaged.
7. Donors Prioritize Shared Values Over Competitiveness
76% of donors prioritize alignment with their values over a candidate’s electability.Only 15% base their support on competitiveness and impact.
8. Podcast Consumption Triples Among Voters
Weekly podcast listeners rose to 32% in 2024, up from 10% in 2020.This surge underscores podcasts’ growing influence in political communication.
9. Voters Overwhelmingly Rely On The Internet For Candidate Research
60% of voters searched online for election information in 2024, a 16-point increase from 2020.Candidate websites (31%) and social media (30%) are key tools for reaching voters.
10. A Majority Of Voters Believe AI Influenced The 2024 Election
54% of voters thought artificial intelligence played a role in the election.Only 8% believed AI had no role, reflecting the growing awareness of AI in campaigns.
Methodology Statement
The Center for Campaign Innovation commissioned David Kanevsky with 3D Strategic Research to conduct a post-election survey with voters and donors.
The survey was conducted November 3-7, 2024 among n=1,500 voters nationally, along with an oversample of N=300 donors, for a total of N=524 donors. The voter survey has a margin of error of +2.52%, while the combined donor oversample has a margin of error of +4.28%.
The voter survey was conducted with a mix of text messages inviting voters to take the survey via a secure web link and an online survey with voters on the Dynata panel who are matched to the Data Trust voter file. The donor oversample was conducted using a flag of those who had contributed to a political party, with invites to take the donor survey via s secure web link were sent via text message and e-mail. The survey was weighted to reflect the 2024 electorate based on region/geography, gender, age, education, race and results for President and U.S. Congress.