More than half of American adults are more enthusiastic than usual about voting in November, marking a new high for excitement in the midterm elections, according to new polling.
A Gallup survey released Thursday found that 55 percent of adults are more enthusiastic about voting this year than in the past. That percentage surpasses the previous high of 50 percent in the 2010 midterms, according to Gallup polls dating back to 1994.
Thirty-three percent of respondents said they are less enthusiastic about voting this year.
Enthusiasm is high in both parties amid a fight for control of Congress, pollsters found.
Among Democrats, 61 percent of adults said they are more enthusiastic about voting this year compared to previous midterm elections. Gallup found that number closely matched enthusiasm among Republicans in 2010, when the GOP won control of the House.
Thursday’s pol found that 58 percent of Republicans are now more enthusiastic to vote compared to other years.
Fifty-eight percent of adults also said they are absolutely certain they will vote this year, according to the poll, but Gallup noted voter enthusiasm does not always translate into turnout.
The poll surveyed 1,508 adults from Sept. 17-23, and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Despite a narrow margin in voter enthusiasm between the parties, recent polling has shown Democrats with a comfortable lead on the generic congressional ballot.
A RealClearPolitics average of polls, which shows the party with a 7.5 percentage point lead.
Republicans are attempting to stave off a surge of Democratic victories and retain control of the House and Senate. Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in the House to reclaim the majority, and the party only needs to gain two seats to take the majority in the Senate.