The answer to a University of Massachusetts Lowell/Odyssey millennials poll, revealed the levels of dissatisfaction young voters in the United States are feeling with the political system ahead of the November 8 presidential election.
Pollsters asked 1,247 people, aged between 18-35, to choose between Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, President Obama staying in office for life, a president through a random lottery or citizens or the planet being destroyed by a huge meteor.
Great story and graphics of our poll from our partners at @TheOdyssey https://t.co/DtdzcYQydl
— UML Public Opinion (@UML_CPO) October 18, 2016
The most popular option, chosen by 39 percent of respondents was Obama staying in office for life.
This was followed by 26 percent of respondents choosing a president elected through a random lottery, while 23 percent preferred the end of humanity altogether through a giant meteor strike
Some 53 percent of the 1,247 people aged 18 to 35 said they would prefer to see a meteor destroy the world than have Republican Trump in the Oval Office, with some 34 percent preferring planetary annihilation to seeing the Democratic former secretary of state Clinton, win.
Only 68% of Republican #millennials express an intent to vote for #Trump with 16% saying they will vote for @HillaryClinton. @UML_CPO
— UMass Lowell (@UMassLowell) October 18, 2016
Trump and Clinton are the most unpopular presidential candidates in US history.
However, when the young people were forced to choose between them, Clinton came out on top with 66 percent supporting her, with only 22 percent backing Trump — and 12 percent said they are undecided.
Professor Joshua Dyck, co-director of UMass Lowell's Center for Public Opinion, said:
"We do not take our respondents at their word that they are earnestly interested in seeing the world end, but we do take their willingness to rank two constitutional crises and a giant meteor ahead of these two candidates with startling frequency as a sign of displeasure and disaffection with the candidates and the 2016 election."
Dyck added: "The nomination of Donald Trump appears only to have made things worse for Republicans, with fewer than 1 in 4 likely voters 18 to 35 years old supporting the candidate."
In national polls, Clinton is currently beating Trump by 9 points.
