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Exit Poll: Voters Look For Needed Change In Candidate

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Voters this election season were looking for a candidate who could bring much-needed change, according to a new national CBS News exit poll.

The poll, released Tuesday evening, just an hour before polls closed in Florida, shows 38 percent of voters said they wanted a candidate that would bring change. Right behind that, 22% said they wanted a candidate with the right experience and good judgment.

Trump voters were looking for change while Clinton voters prioritized experience and judgment, researchers said.

In Florida, a large chunk of voters (70%) said they believe illegal immigrants should be given legal status while 22% said they should be deported.

When it comes to whether immigration is hurting or helping the U.S., about 59% of Florida voters believe it helps the country. About 27% said it hurt it.

Around the nation, the economy was a top topic for voters on both sides.

About 52%, in fact, said it was the most important issue. Far behind, at 18 percent was terrorism. Foreign Policy (13%) and immigration (12%) came out at the bottom of the list.

As for the contentious debates, more than half of the voters, 63%, said they were an important factor in their vote. About 31% said they were not important in their vote.

Pollsters found the debates were more important to Clinton voters than to Trump voters.

And as for who wins, seven in 10 Clinton voters said they would be scared of a Trump presidency while 62% of Trump voters said they would be scared of a Clinton presidency.

Click here to read more about Campaign 2016.

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