Exit polls: Majority of voters dissatisfied or angry with Washington

Jeremy Diamond, CNN
Updated 6:49 PM EST, Tue November 4, 2014

Story highlights

CNN released its first wave of analysis from voters who participated in exit polls Tuesday

A majority of those surveyed had unfavorable views of both parties

(CNN) —  

A majority of Americans are dissatisfied or angry with President Barack Obama’s administration and GOP leaders, according to exit polls released Tuesday and analyzed by CNN.

And about 8 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Congress is handling its job, according to a survey of voters outside of polling places on Election Day.

Samantha Mongoven casts her vote in the hallway of the historic courthouse in Boulder, Montana, on Tuesday, November 4. Millions of people nationwide are taking part in the 2014 midterm elections.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Samantha Mongoven casts her vote in the hallway of the historic courthouse in Boulder, Montana, on Tuesday, November 4. Millions of people nationwide are taking part in the 2014 midterm elections.
PHOTO: Eliza Wiley/AP
People in Washington vote at Eastern Market, a food market in the nation
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People in Washington vote at Eastern Market, a food market in the nation's capital.
PHOTO: The Washington Times/Landov
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in a portable structure outside of David Chapel Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in a portable structure outside of David Chapel Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.
PHOTO: Tamir Kalifa/AP
A man arrives to vote at the Avenue 3 Pizza shop in Long Beach, California.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A man arrives to vote at the Avenue 3 Pizza shop in Long Beach, California.
PHOTO: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in the Rabbit Hash General Store in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in the Rabbit Hash General Store in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.
PHOTO: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Voters cast ballots at Manzanita Community School in Oakland, California.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters cast ballots at Manzanita Community School in Oakland, California.
PHOTO: Ben Margot/AP
People vote inside the City Hall rotunda in San Jose, California.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People vote inside the City Hall rotunda in San Jose, California.
PHOTO: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
A voter looks over his ballot at Fugate
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A voter looks over his ballot at Fugate's Bowling Alley in Hazard, Kentucky.
PHOTO: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A woman votes at Su Nueva Laundromat in Chicago.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A woman votes at Su Nueva Laundromat in Chicago.
PHOTO: Brian Kersey/Getty Images
People in Los Angeles vote at a polling place set up in the playground of a McDonald
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People in Los Angeles vote at a polling place set up in the playground of a McDonald's.
PHOTO: Jae C. Hong/AP
Voters cast their ballots at First Class Barber Shop in Chicago.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters cast their ballots at First Class Barber Shop in Chicago.
PHOTO: Brian Kersey/Getty Images
People vote in a library near Ferguson, Missouri.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People vote in a library near Ferguson, Missouri.
PHOTO: Scott Olson/Getty Images
A voter exits the Valley Bible Chalet, which is a polling location in Indian, Alaska.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A voter exits the Valley Bible Chalet, which is a polling location in Indian, Alaska.
PHOTO: Ted S. Warren/AP
Voters cast their ballots at the Jamestown Town Hall in Jamestown, North Carolina.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters cast their ballots at the Jamestown Town Hall in Jamestown, North Carolina.
PHOTO: JOHN TAGGART/EPA/Landov
People vote inside the Krishna Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People vote inside the Krishna Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.
PHOTO: Rick Bowmer/AP
A voter casts his ballot at a polling place set up at the Venice Beach lifeguard headquarters in Los Angeles.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A voter casts his ballot at a polling place set up at the Venice Beach lifeguard headquarters in Los Angeles.
PHOTO: Jae C. Hong/AP
People vote in a gym at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Albany, New York.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People vote in a gym at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Albany, New York.
PHOTO: Mike Groll/AP
A poll manager is sworn in before the polls open at the old Hoggards Mill Courthouse in Newton, Georgia.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A poll manager is sworn in before the polls open at the old Hoggards Mill Courthouse in Newton, Georgia.
PHOTO: David Goldman/AP
A voter casts her ballot at a fire station in Climax, North Carolina.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A voter casts her ballot at a fire station in Climax, North Carolina.
PHOTO: Alex Wong/Getty Images
People vote inside the Frontier-Harley Davidson store in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
People vote inside the Frontier-Harley Davidson store in Lincoln, Nebraska.
PHOTO: Matt Masin/The Journal-Star/AP
A woman votes at the Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A woman votes at the Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge, Illinois.
PHOTO: Brian Kersey/Getty Images
Voters line up to cast their ballots in the gym at Northside Elementary School in Midway, Kentucky.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
Voters line up to cast their ballots in the gym at Northside Elementary School in Midway, Kentucky.
PHOTO: Win McNamee/Getty Images
A bake sale is held outside Jefferson Elementary School, a polling place in Milwaukee.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A bake sale is held outside Jefferson Elementary School, a polling place in Milwaukee.
PHOTO: Darren Hauck/Getty Images
A voter drops his election ballot at one of many drop boxes in Arvada, Colorado, a Denver suburb.
Photos: Photos: The places America votes
The places America votes —  
A voter drops his election ballot at one of many drop boxes in Arvada, Colorado, a Denver suburb.
PHOTO: BOB PEARSON/EPA/Landov

Nearly six in 10 voters are either dissatisfied or angry with both the White House and Republican leaders in Congress. Less than a third of Americans are satisfied with the Obama administration and GOP leaders.

Follow the election on CNN Politics’ livestream

And heading into the voting booth, seven in ten Americans said they were concerned about economic conditions.

Most voters had a negative view of both parties, with the Democratic Party barely edging out the GOP to pull a positive view from 44% of voters compared to 40% for the Republican Party.

But the two parties will be playing to moderates, with about 40% of voters identifying themselves as neither liberal or conservative. The conservative bloc is also larger than the liberal bastion, with about 36% of Americans calling themselves conservatives.

And after an election that has played up government dysfunction and crises both at home and abroad, exit polls reveal that voters are concerned and anxious about the current state of the country and the direction it is headed.

Two-thirds of voters said they believe the country is headed on the wrong track, and only 22% believe the next generation of Americans will be better off.

And about 72% are at least somewhat worried that there could be a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

And voters’ confidence in the government has been seriously shaken, with only 1 in 5 voters saying they trust the government to do the right thing.

On the issues

Ebola: Ebola also hit the campaign trail this season and about six in ten Americans said they followed news about Ebola. And only about 44% of Americans believe the federal government has done a good job combating the disease.

ISIS: The threat of ISIS has also been played up by some Senate candidates, and a majority of Americans surveyed Tuesday support airstrikes against the militant group in Iraq and Syria.

Check out CNN’s 2014 midterm elections Magic Wall

Immigration: About half the electorate said they believe illegal immigrants should get an opportunity to gain legal status in the U.S, while about 37% of voters said they want all illegal immigrants deported.

Same-sex marriage: The midterm electorate is evenly split on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Exit polls are surveys of voters taken as they leave polling stations as well as phone surveys of voters taken before Election Day.

CNN’s Magic Wall Midterms coverage