Americans want Congress to deal with the debt ceiling. How to do it is complicated

The dome of the U.S. Capitol building is visible in a reflection on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2023. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

American voters lean in favor of raising the debt ceiling, but are divided on how to pay down the national debt, the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds.

By a 52%-to-46% margin, registered voters said they support raising the debt ceiling. They divide along party lines with 8 in 10 Democrats in favor and 7 in 10 Republicans opposed. Independents are split.