Community Voices report · as of October 1, 2026
What Guåhan is telling us.
Since June 29, people across the island have answered our anonymous survey about this election: what matters most, what keeps people from voting, and what makes them proud of home. This is everything they have said so far. The survey is still open.
212
survey responses
184
written answers
6,018
straw-poll votes
94 days
June 29 – Sept 30
Read this first
This is not a scientific survey. The 212 people who answered chose to, on this website, so they are more engaged than the island as a whole: 93% say they will definitely or probably vote. Read these as the views of people who showed up here, not of all of Guam. Every response is anonymous and cannot be tied to a person.
Four things people told us
61%
say cost of living is the issue that matters most
128 of 209 picked it. Jobs and the economy came second at 19%. Nothing else passed 5%.
52%
say not knowing the candidates keeps people their age from voting
It was the top answer by a wide margin. Among people aged 18–24 it was 67%; among those 50–64 it was 32%.
27%
of written answers raise government accountability
When people described the island's biggest issue in their own words, corruption, spending and trust in government came second only to the cost of living.
51%
say the people and community are what make them proud
Asked what makes them proud of Guåhan, more than half wrote about each other: generosity, hospitality, and showing up in hard times.
The issue that matters most
“Which issue matters most to you?” One choice each. 209 people answered.
- Cost of living61% (128 people)
- Jobs & economy19% (40 people)
- Schools5% (10 people)
- Environment5% (10 people)
- Public safety3% (7 people)
- Guam Memorial Hospital3% (6 people)
- GRT / taxes2% (5 people)
- Other (includes answers chosen by fewer than 5 people)1% (3 people)
Picked cost of living, by age
| Group | Cost of living | Answered |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 70% | 47 |
| 25–34 | 53% | 68 |
| 35–49 | 64% | 42 |
| 50–64 | 62% | 29 |
Picked cost of living, by region
| Group | Cost of living | Answered |
|---|---|---|
| North | 66% | 68 |
| Central | 57% | 84 |
| South | 65% | 34 |
What keeps people from voting
“Biggest thing keeping people your age from voting?” 188 people answered. The top answer is the reason Vote Smart Guam exists: it isn't time or interest. People say their peers don't know who is running.
- Don't know the candidates52% (98 people)
- My vote won't matter16% (30 people)
- I do vote14% (26 people)
- Too busy7% (14 people)
- Not registered5% (9 people)
- Other (includes answers chosen by fewer than 5 people)6% (11 people)
“Don’t know the candidates,” by age
| Group | Said this | Answered |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 67% | 45 |
| 25–34 | 52% | 67 |
| 35–49 | 47% | 38 |
| 50–64 | 32% | 25 |
In their own words: the biggest issue
94 people wrote an answer to “In your own words, what's the biggest issue facing Guåhan right now?” or told us why their top issue matters. We read every one and sorted them by what they were about. One answer can count toward more than one theme, so the percentages add up to more than 100. Quotes are printed exactly as written.
Cost of living, prices & wages
41% (39 of 94)
- “The cost of living and inflation has made getting out of the low-income bracket almost unattainable, every time salary increases which could take years to do, by the time you hit that goal, you're right back at the bottom because the salary goal is no longer sufficient to stop the struggle due to inflation to cost of living. Even if you get a pay raise, the grocery, gas, utility bill also increases so you stay stagnant living paycheck to paycheck, choosing between food and paying your mortgage or light bill.”
- “The price we pay just to live on Guam, where majority of us are born, raised, and wish to be, is way higher than what companies are offering to pay employees. It’s disheartening and truly sad that I have to consider moving off island just so I can have a better chance to have a secure, stable paying job”
- “the cost of living, minimum wage is too low, gas prices are rising, grocery prices are rising, rent & bills are rising when it doesnt feel sustainable to the people for them to feel independent”
Government accountability: corruption, spending & trust
27% (25 of 94)
- “Disconnect between the government and normal people. The middle class is struggling financially due to cost of living. If you work for the government, you are doing fine. If you are upper class, you are doing fine. If you are lower class, you are getting help from the government.”
- “Nepotism and corruption in all government branches, one always grows the other. Always has been a problem and change is needed from the root not the stem.”
- “Government continues to expand, especially salaries, while they completely ignore the taxpayers struggles.”
Drugs, crime & public safety
16% (15 of 94)
- “Drug use and lack of appropriate rehab programs and resources versus just being sent to jail and gaining no new skills or outlooks on life.”
- “Drug use and crime - no longer inafa' maolek vibe”
Jobs, the economy & tourism
13% (12 of 94)
- “We need a major paradigm shift in how we market Guam. How can we call ourselves a tourist desitination when we have absolutely zero attractions on the island and not much fun or cool or fascinating things to even do. Our beaches are beautiful but they are nothing special bc you can find beaches all over the world that are more breathtaking and magical.”
- “Not enough investment in future economic opportunities and collaboration to spur growth”
Public schools
10% (9 of 94)
- “School shapes our children. The lack of attention and accountability in the school system is failing them.”
- “My school has not been build in over three years now”
People leaving the island
6% (6 of 94)
- “Locals leaving. We are losing brainpower, manpower, and economic power because it’s too expensive to live here and the crime rate is increasing.”
- “Young and skilled folks are leaving”
Housing
5% (5 of 94)
- “Housing is paramount. Then healthcare and education. And of course, illegal drug importation.”
Self-determination & the military buildup
5% (5 of 94)
- “The biggest issue facing Guåhan is our inability to make decisions for ourselves. As a territory, we continue to have little power in protecting our people, our island, and shaping a future we want. For example, with the deep-sea mining issue, we have to constantly fight to prove why this initiative is wrong for our island and still feel the fear that the decision may become out of our control because we are a territory.”
Healthcare & the hospital
5% (5 of 94)
Roads, utilities & the environment
5% (5 of 94)
Voter engagement & political culture
4% (4 of 94)
- “The young voters are not engaged because they are too busy earning a living to care about politics.”
- “It feels like a lot of the non voting population thinks that politics isnt their business and just wants to go with the flow but somehow will still complain about what's happening despite having the opportunity to make a change.”
In their own words: what makes them proud
90 people answered “What's something good about Guam — something you're proud of or love?”
The people & the sense of community
51% (46 of 90)
- “I LOVE our community and culture of sharing. In the office late yesterday and found out the gal who cleans the office had a death in her family; her Mom. it was after 5pm yet every person still in office immediately opened their wallets to help.”
- “The community still manages to mostly come together during hardships (typhoons, etc) to support and help each other.”
- “We help each other”
CHamoru culture, heritage & traditions
31% (28 of 90)
- “I am proud to be a CHamoru! I grow more and more enamored with our culture and history every day. I love to see the progress our people are making in connecting back to our traditions and roots through education, policy, and community. Biba Guåhan!”
- “I’m proud that despite many years of colonization and westernization, our CHamoru people are still strongly connected to their roots, culture, and heritage.”
The island's natural beauty
16% (14 of 90)
- “No matter where you go on Guam, no matter what time of day or night, rain or shine, there's always a beautiful spot to be found!”
Home, family & roots
11% (10 of 90)
- “This is my home, I was born and raised here and I have a deep love the community and the natural beauty. I hope that I can live here forever and retire here comfortably without feeling like I have to sacrifice something just to stay.”
- “It’s my homeland and where I will be buried along with my ancestors.”
Resilience
9% (8 of 90)
- “The resiliency of our people that despite the adversities and hardships we still push through!”
- “Even though we’re struggling, our people are resilient.”
Diversity & being welcoming
4% (4 of 90)
- “That it is a melting pot of cultures. That even though most Chamorros are relocating to the states -they still try and keep the culture alive.”
Who answered
Every question was optional, so each chart counts only the people who answered it. Skips and “prefer not to say” are left out.
Age · 192 answered
- 18–2425% (48 people)
- 25–3436% (69 people)
- 35–4922% (42 people)
- 50–6416% (30 people)
- Other (includes answers chosen by fewer than 5 people)2% (3 people)
Where on island? · 189 answered
- North36% (68 people)
- Central46% (87 people)
- South18% (34 people)
Gender · 190 answered
- Woman55% (104 people)
- Man44% (84 people)
- Other (includes answers chosen by fewer than 5 people)1% (2 people)
Are you registered to vote? · 204 answered
- Yes90% (184 people)
- No7% (15 people)
- Not sure2% (5 people)
Will you vote in 2026? · 208 answered
- Definitely80% (166 people)
- Probably13% (27 people)
- Not sure4% (9 people)
- Probably not3% (6 people)
Is this your first time voting? · 199 answered
- Yes19% (37 people)
- No81% (162 people)
How this report was made
- Where the answers came from. An optional, anonymous survey on votesmartguam.com, open to anyone, from June 29 through September 30, 2026. No account is needed and no answer is linked to a person, an email, or a device.
- Not a sample. People chose to answer. Younger adults, central Guam, and people who already plan to vote are likely over-represented.
- Protecting small groups. Any answer chosen by fewer than five people is folded into “Other.” Breakdowns by age or region are shown only for groups of 25 or more.
- Themes. Vote Smart Guam read every written answer and assigned it to one or more themes. Counts include every answer submitted. Sorting free text takes judgment, so treat theme percentages as approximate.
- Quotes. Only answers already reviewed and published on our Voices wall are quoted, word for word. We don't soften criticism. We don't publish profanity or attacks on a named person.
- A snapshot. These figures are fixed as of October 1, 2026. New answers will appear in the next edition, not here.
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