Report on Citizen Opinions about Voting & Elections

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Samson Willis
5 years ago
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1 Center for Public Opinion Dr. Joshua J. Dyck and Dr. Francis Talty, Co-Directors Report on Citizen Opinions about Voting & Elections Results of 2 surveys Polls Conducted by YouGov 4/3/15-4/21/15 & 10/1/14-11/3/14 N=1,000 American Adults Credibility Interval: /-3.7% (/- 3% adjusted for weights) National Internet Panel Survey matched to 2010 ACS Methodology YouGov interviewed 1152 respondents who were then matched down to a sample of 1000 to produce the final dataset. The respondents were matched to a sampling frame on gender, age, race, education, party identification, ideology, and political interest. The frame was constructed by stratified sampling from the full 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) sample with selection within strata by weighted sampling with replacements (using the person weights on the public use file). Data on voter registration status and turnout were matched to this frame using the vember 2010 Current Population Survey. Data on interest in politics and party identification were then matched to this frame from the 2007 Pew Religious Life Survey. The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores. The matched cases and the frame were combined and a logistic regression was estimated for inclusion in the frame. The propensity score function included age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and ideology. The propensity scores were grouped into deciles of the estimated propensity score in the frame and post-stratified according to these deciles.

2 Voting and Participation (survey completed in April of 2015) Q1 When it comes to voting in American elections today, what do you think is a bigger problem? 51% People who want to vote are not able to vote 49 People who should not be allowed to vote are able to vote People who want to vote are not able to People who should not be allowed to vote are able to People who want to vote are not able to People who should not be allowed to vote are able to People who want to vote are not able to People who should not be allowed to vote are able to People who want to vote are not able to People who should not be allowed to vote are able to Yes

3 Q2 Generally speaking, do you think other people can be trusted to make intelligent or informed decisions when voting in elections, or are most people not intelligent or informed enough to be trusted when voting in elections? 43% People can be trusted to make intelligent/informed decisions 35 People cannot be trusted to make intelligent/informed decisions 22 Don t Know/ Answer People can be trusted People cannot be trusted Don t know/ Answer People can be trusted People cannot be trusted Don t know/ Answer Yes People can be trusted People cannot be trusted Don t know/ Answer People can be trusted People cannot be trusted Don t know/ Answer

4 Q3 Do you believe that people who have been convicted of a felony and are currently in prison should be allowed to vote in American elections? 16% Yes in every circumstance 44 It depends on the crime committed 39 In no circumstance should a felon be allowed to vote Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Yes Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance

5 Q4 Do you believe that people who have been convicted of a felony, have served time and prison and since been released should be eligible to vote in American elections? 32% Yes in every circumstance 51 It depends on the crime committed 18 In no circumstance should an ex-felon be allowed to vote Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Yes Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance Every Circumstance It Depends Circumstance

6 Campaign Finance (survey completed in October of 2014) How closely have you followed the debate over campaign finance, or the limits and extent of money in elections? 13% very closely 31 somewhat closely 35 not too closely 22 not closely at all Very Closely what Closely t Too Closely t Closely At All Very Closely what Closely t Too Closely t Closely At All Yes Very Closely what Closely t Too Closely t Closely At All Very Closely what Closely t Too Closely t Closely At All

7 Consider the following statements. For each, tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. Donors to political campaigns have too much power. 52% Strongly Agree 35 what Agree 10 what Disagree 3 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree * Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree * Strongly Disagree Yes Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree

8 one should be able to tell us how much money we can give to a political candidate if we want to. 25% Strongly Agree 29 what Agree 23 what Disagree 22 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Yes Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree

9 Wealthy Americans have more of a chance to influence elections other citizens. 62% Strongly Agree 29 what Agree 6 what Disagree 2 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Yes Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree

10 Donating money to a political campaign is a protected right. 26% Strongly Agree 45 what Agree 21 what Disagree 9 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Yes Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree what Agree what Disagree Strongly Disagree

11 Which of these two statements comes closer to your point of view about money in elections: 33% Contributing money to political candidates is a form of free speech that must be protected. 67 Contributing money to political candidates can be a form of corruption that should be limited in order to maintain fair elections. Money is Free Speech/Protect Money is Corruption/Limit Money is Free Speech/Protect Money is Corruption/Limit Yes Money is Free Speech/Protect Money is Corruption/Limit Money is Free Speech/Protect Money is Corruption/Limit

12 Which one of the following two positions on campaign finance do you favor more: 69% The amount of money individuals can contribute to political campaigns should be limited. 31 Individuals should be allowed to contribute as much money to political campaigns as they would like. Limit Campaign Donations Campaign Donation Limits Limit Campaign Donations Campaign Donation Limits Yes Limit Campaign Donations Campaign Donation Limits Limit Campaign Donations Campaign Donation Limits

13 Current campaign finance laws limit individual donations to $2,600 per candidate for each election ($5,200 for the primary and general election combined). Should individual donors be allowed to give [ROTATED] more, the current amount, less? 19% More 55 Current Amount 26 More Current Amount More Current Amount Yes More Current Amount More Current Amount

14 Would you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose a new campaign finance system where federal campaigns are funded by the government rather funded by contributions from individuals and private groups? 15% strongly favor 29 somewhat favor 25 somewhat oppose 31 strongly oppose Strongly Favor what Favor what Oppose Strongly Oppose Strongly Favor what Favor what Oppose Strongly Oppose Yes Strongly Favor what Favor what Oppose Strongly Oppose Strongly Favor what Favor what Oppose Strongly Oppose

15 Do you think imposing limits on campaign donations help to prevent corruption, has no effect, or increases corruption? 52% Imposing limits prevents corruption 37 Imposing limits has no impact 11 Imposing limits increases corruption Prevents Corruption Impact Increases Corruption Prevents Corruption Impact Increases Corruption Yes Prevents Corruption Impact Increases Corruption Prevents Corruption Impact Increases Corruption

Cato Institute Policing in America Survey

Cato Institute Policing in America Survey Cato Institute/YouGov June 6-22, 2016 N=2,000 Margin of error +/- 3.19%. Columns may not add up to 100% due to rounding. 1. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable