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How well do you understand the important political issues facing our country? Extremely well, very well, moderately well, slightly well, or not well at all?
Self-rated understanding of political issues · Asked in 5 waves, 2008–2024 · 19,916 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): -9 in 2008, 2012. Kept and flagged: -9 (other_missing), -8 (dk).
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Extremely well | Very well | Moderately well | Slightly well | Not well at all | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V242203. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 4,764 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V202215. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 7,449 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V162218. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 3,648 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: effic_undrev. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 2,886 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083080b. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 1,169 |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| 11% |
| 24% |
| 44% |
| 16% |
| 5% |
| 4764 |
| ±2 |
| Lower income | 12% | 20% | 44% | 16% | 9% | 1448 | ±4 |
| Middle income | 10% | 23% | 43% | 18% | 6% | 1571 | ±4 |
| Upper income | 11% | 27% | 44% | 15% | 3% | 1484 | ±4 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.