November 15-18, 2013 Open Government Survey

Transcription

1 November 15-18, 2013 Open Government Survey 1

2 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 3 TOPLINE... 6 DEMOGRAPHICS CROSS-TABULATIONS Trust: Federal Government Trust: State Government Trust: Local Government Sunshine Comparison Request Success Access Secret Contributions All Meetings Expenses Hazards Salaries Criminal Property Utilities Party affiliation records Voting records Gun Permits Amendment Channel Basic Methodological Information The Elon University Poll Team

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Elon University Poll conducted a live-caller, dual frame (landline and cell phone) survey of 732 residents of North Carolina on November 15-18, The survey has a margin of error of 3.62 percentage points and asks a battery of questions related to open government and transparency. Trust in Government Respondents trust their local governments more than the state government and the federal government. Forty-nine percent said they trust their local government to do what is right most of the time or just about always, compared to 26.5% for state government and 14% for the federal government. Democrats (22%) were more likely to trust the federal government to do what is right, compared to 10% of Independents and 12% of Republicans. Republicans were more likely to trust the state government (42%), compared to 27% of Independents and 15% of Democrats. African Americans were less likely to trust state and local governments to do what is right than whites. Open Government and Transparency Most respondents were not aware that North Carolina has sunshine laws that make public documents, records, information, and meetings available and accessible to citizens. More respondents (41%) also felt the state government in North Carolina is less open and transparent than it was five years ago. Democrats (56%) were more likely to say state government is now less open and transparent than Republicans (30%). Younger (18-30 years old) respondents were also more likely to say state government is now less open than older respondents. Requesting Public Records Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they had attempted to obtain some type of public documents, records, or information. Eighty-seven percent of those respondents said they were successful in obtaining that information. The most common type of record requested was related to real estate (18%), followed by birth certificates (17%), followed by criminal or 3

4 police records (11%). Over half of respondents (51%) felt there should be no fee for requesting public information. Respondents were asked what they felt would be a reasonable amount for the fee. Of those respondents who believe there should be a fee, the average response was 14 dollars, but ranged from $1 to $90. Access to Information Almost 60% of respondents agree with the statement it s important to be able to get any document you want from government, but 63% also agree that sometimes government officials are justified in keeping some information a secret. Over 70% of North Carolinians said they would support an amendment to the North Carolina constitution that makes all public business of any government in North Carolina open and available to the public. When asked about specific type of records, most respondents felt it was important to be able to access government meetings, and information on campaign contributions, government expense accounts, location of hazardous material, salaries of public employees, criminal records, property tax records, and gun permits. But most respondents did not believe members of the public should have access to government employee messages, public utilities of individuals, a voter s party affiliation or how often they voted. Dr. Kenneth E. Fernandez and Dr. Jason A. Husser 4

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6 TOPLINE Trust: Federal Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Just about always % Most of the time % Some of the time % None of the time [don't read] % Don't know % Refused % Trust: State Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the state government in Raleigh to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Just about always % Most of the time % Some of the time % None of the time [don't read] % Don't know % Refused % Trust: Local Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the local government in your community to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Just about always % Most of the time % Some of the time % None of the time [don't read] % Don't know % 6

7 Open Government Introduction Now, I'd like to ask you some questions about the accessibility and availability of public documents and information... Sunshine Most states have laws called "Sunshine Laws" that make public documents, records, information, and meetings available and accessible to citizens.... are you [aware or not aware] if North Carolina has these laws? Aware % Not Aware % I don't know/not sure % Comparison Compared to five years ago, would you say the state government in North Carolina is now more open and transparent, less open and transparent, or is the level of openness and transparency about the same? More open % Less open % About the same [volunteered] % Don't know % Refused % Request Have you ever tried to get any public documents, records, and information? Yes % No % Don't Know % Success [If Request = 1] Were you generally successful in getting the documents, records, or information that you tried to? Yes % No % Don't Know % Refused % 7

8 N= % Type [If Request = 1] Do you remember what type of document you tried to request? [OPEN-ENDED RESPONSE] Deeds / Real Estate Records % Birth Certificates % Criminal/Background/Police Records % Miscellaneous (Other) % Legislation/Legislative Voting Records % Court Documents % Death Records/Wills % Miscellaneous (Business Related) % School / Education Records % Medical / Health Records % Divorce Records % Genealogical / Historical Records % Meetings Information % Military % Don't Know % Social Security Card % Refusal % N= % Costs Should there be a fee for requesting a government document to help cover the costs involved in retrieving that record? (follow-up question if yes) If it took a government employee a half hour to obtain a record for you, what do you think would be a reasonable fee for that document? [OPEN-ENDED RESPONSE CATEGORIZED] Nothing % $1 to $ % $6 to $ % $11 to $ % More than $ % Don't Know % 8

9 Agree/Disagree Questions Now I want to read you some statements about the availability & accessibility of public documents, records, information, & meetings, in connection with how government operates. Please tell me whether you [agree or disagree] with each statement. Access It s important to be able to get any document you want from government Agree % Disagree % Neither agree or disagree % Don't Know % Refused % Secret Sometimes government officials are justified in keeping some information a secret Agree % Disagree % Neither agree or disagree % Don't Know % Refused % Contributions It is important to know who elected officials get their campaign contributions from Agree % Disagree % Neither agree or disagree % Don't Know % Hearings All government meetings should be open to the public Agree % Disagree % Neither agree or disagree (volunteered) % Don't Know % Refused % 9

10 Should/Should Not Questions Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information. Expenses Records of government officials' expense accounts. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % Hazards Government records that identify the type, amount, and location of hazardous chemicals. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Salaries The annual salaries of public employees. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Criminal Records detailing someone's criminal past. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % 10

11 Government employees work messages Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % Property Property tax records of individuals, including the value of a person's home and how much was paid in property taxes. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % Utilities Public utility records, which include how much water a person uses. Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Party affiliation records Records on a voter s political party affiliation Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % 11

12 Voting records Records on how often someone voted Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % Gun Permits Records on who has applied for a gun permit Should % Should NOT % Don't know % Refused % Amendment Would you [support or oppose] an amendment to the North Carolina constitution that makes all public business of any government body in North Carolina open and available to the public. Support % Oppose % Don t Know % Refused % Channel How [interested or uninterested] are you in a new state government television channel that would broadcast North Carolina legislative sessions and committee hearings? Would you say you are: [not at all interested, somewhat interested, or very interested]?i Very interested % Somewhat interested % Not at all interested % Don't know % 12

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14 DEMOGRAPHICS Income Is your annual household income more or less than $50,000? (If = Under $50,000) Is it more or less than $25,000? (If = Over $50,000) Is it more or less than $75,000? Less than $25, % $25,000 to $50, % $50,000 to $75, % More than $75, % Don't Know % Refused % N= % Age How old are you? % % % % % N= % Race For statistical purposes only, could you please tell me your race or ethnic background? White % Black % Other % N= % Gender Was the person male or female? Male % Female % N= % 14

15 CROSS- TABULATIONS Trust: Federal Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Just about always Federal Government Trust and Race Some of None of the time the time Most of the time Don't know Refused Total % % White Black Other Total Just about always Federal Government Trust and Party Most of Some of None of Don't the time the time the time know Refused Total % % Democrats Independents Republicans DK / Refused Total Just about always Federal Government Trust and Age Some of None of the time the time Most of the time Don't know Refused Total % % Total

16 Trust: State Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the state government in Raleigh to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Just about always State Government Trust and Race Some of None of the time the time Most of the time Don't know Refused Total % % White Black Other Total Just about always State Government Trust and Party Most of Some of None of Don't the time the time the time know Refused Total % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Just about always Most of the time State Government Trust and Age Some of None of the time the time Don't know Refused Total % % Total

17 Trust: Local Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the local government in your community to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? Local Government Trust and Race Just about Most of the Some of None of Don't Total always time the time the time know % White Black Other Total Local Government Trust and Party Just about Most of Some of None of Don't Total always the time the time the time know % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Local Government Trust and Age Just about Most of the Some of None of Don't Total always time the time the time know % Total

18 Sunshine Most states have laws called "Sunshine Laws" that make public documents, records, information, and meetings available and accessible to citizens: are you [aware or not aware] if North Carolina has these laws? Sunshine Awareness and Race Aware Not Aware Don't Know Total % % % % White Black Other Total Sunshine Awareness and Income Aware Not Aware Don't Know Total % % % % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Sunshine Awareness and Party Aware Not Aware Don't Know Total % % % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Sunshine Awareness and Age Aware Not Aware Don't Know Total % % % % Total

19 Comparison Compared to five years ago, would you say the state government in North Carolina is now more open and transparent, less open and transparent, or is the level of openness and transparency about the same? Openness over Time and Race More open Less open About the same Don't know Refused Total % White Black Other Total Openness over Time and Income More Less open About the Don't Refused Total open same know % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Openness over Time and Party More Less open About the Don't Refused Total open same know % Democrats Independents Republicans DK / Refused Total Openness over Time and Age More open Less open About the Don't know Refused Total same %

20 Total Request Have you ever tried to get any public documents, records, and information? Attempt to Access and Race Yes No Don't Know Total % % % % White Black Other Total Attempt to Access and Income Yes No Don't Know Total % % % % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Attempt to Access and Party Yes No Don't Know Total % % % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Attempt to Access and Age Yes No Don't Know Total % % % % Total

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22 Success Were you generally successful in getting the documents, records, or information that you tried to? Access Success and Race Yes No Don't Know Refused Total White Black Other Total Access Success and Income Yes No Don't Know Refused Total Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Access Success and Party Yes No Don't Know Refused Total Democrats Independents Republicans DK / Refused Total Access Success and Age Yes No Don't Know Refused Total Total

23 Access It s important to be able to get any document you want from government Any Document and Race Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % White Black Other Total Any Document and Income Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Any Document and Party Agree Disagree Neither agree Don't Refused Total or disagree Know % Democrats Independents Republicans DK / Refused Total Any Document and Age Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Total

24 Secret Sometimes government officials are justified in keeping some information a secret Secrets Justified and Race Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % White Black Other Total Secrets Justified and Income Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Secrets Justified and Party Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Democrats Independents Republicans DK / Refused Total Secrets Justified and Age Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Total

25 Contributions It is important to know who elected officials get their campaign contributions from Names Available and Race Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Total White Black Other Total Names Available and Income Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Total Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Names Available and Party Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Total Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Names Available and Age Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Total Total

26 All Meetings All government meetings should be open to the public All Meetings Open and Race Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % White Black Other Total All Meetings Open and Income Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total All Meetings Open and Party Agre e Disagre e Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refuse d Tota l % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total All Meetings Open and Age Agree Disagree Neither agree or disagree Don't Know Refused Total % Total

27 Should/Should Not Questions: Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information. Expenses Records of government officials' expense accounts. Expense Accounts and Race White Black Other Total Expense Accounts and Income Should Should Don't know Refused Total NOT Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Expense Accounts and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Expense Accounts and Age Total

28 Hazards Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Government records that identify the type, amount, and location of hazardous chemicals. Hazardous Material and Race Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % White Black Other Total Hazardous Material and Income Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Hazardous Material and Party Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Hazardous Material and Age Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Total

29 Salaries Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: The annual salaries of public employees. Public Employee Salaries and Race Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % White Black Other Total Public Employee Salaries and Income Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Public Employee Salaries and Party Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Public Employee Salaries and Age Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Total

30 Criminal Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Records detailing someone's criminal past. Criminal Records and Race White Black Other Total Criminal Records and Income Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Criminal Records and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Criminal Records and Age Total

31 Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Government employees work messages Public Employee and Race White Black Other Total Public Employee and Income Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Public Employee and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Public Employee and Age Total

32 Property Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Property tax records of individuals, including the value of a person's home and how much was paid in property taxes. Property Tax Records and Race White Black Other Total Property Tax Records and Income Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Property Tax Records and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Property Tax Records and Age Total

33 Utilities Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Public utility records, which include how much water a person uses. Public Utility Records and Race Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % White Black Other Total Public Utility Records and Income Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Public Utility Records and Party Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Public Utility Records and Age Should Should NOT Don't know Total % % % % Total

34 Party affiliation records Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Records on a voter s political party affiliation Party Affiliation Records and Race White Black Other Total Party Affiliation Records and Income Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Party Affiliation Records and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Party Affiliation Records and Age Total

35 Voting records Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Records on how often someone voted Voter Turnout Records and Race White Black Other Total Voter Turnout Records and Income $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Voter Turnout Records and Party Democrats Independents Don't Know / Refused Total Voter Turnout Records and Age Total

36 Gun Permits Now I'm going to read a list of items and I would like for you to tell me if you believe ordinary citizens [should or should not] have access to this information: Records on who has applied for a gun permit Gun Permits and Race White Black Other Total Gun Permits and Income Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, Refused Total Gun Permits and Party Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Gun Permits and Age Total

37 Amendment Would you [support or oppose] an amendment to the North Carolina constitution that makes all public business of any government body in North Carolina open and available to the public. Open Amendment and Race Support Oppose Don t Know Refused Total White Black Other Total Open Amendment and Income Support Oppose Don t Know Refused Total Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total Open Amendment and Party Support Oppose Don t Know Refused Total Democrats Independents Republicans Don't Know / Refused Total Open Amendment and Age Support Oppose Don t Know Refused Total Total

38 Channel How [interested or uninterested] are you in a new state government television channel that would broadcast North Carolina legislative sessions and committee hearings? Would you say you are: [not at all interested, somewhat interested, or very interested]?i TV Channel and Race Very interested Somewhat Not at all Don't know Total interested interested White Black Other Total TV Channel and Income Very Somewhat Not at all Don't know Total interested interested interested Less than $25, $25,000 to $50, $50,000 to $75, More than $75, Don't Know Refused Total TV Channel and Party Very interested Somewhat Not at all Don't Total interested interested know Democrats Independents Republicans DK/Refused Total TV Channel and Age Very interested Somewhat interested Not at all interested Don't know Total

39 Total Basic Methodological Information Mode: Live Interviewer RDD Telephone Interviews (Dual Frame: Cell Phone and Landlines) North Carolina; Registered Voters Population & Sample Area Dates in the field: November 15- November 18, 2013 Sample Size 732 Margin of Error ±3.62 Confidence Level 95% Weighting Variables Age, Race, Gender, & Phone Ownership The Elon University Poll uses a stratified random sample of households with telephones and wireless (cell) telephone numbers. Please direct questions about the Elon University Poll s methodology to the Director of the Elon University Poll, Dr. Kenneth Fernandez at or kfernandez@elon.edu. Procedures Used for Conducting the Poll The Elon University Poll uses CATI system software (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) for the administration of surveys. We attempt to reach each working telephone number in the sample up to five times. We only interview residents of North Carolina who are over 18. The Elon University Poll conducted the survey over a four-day period. Live interviewers called from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday (11/15); 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday (11/16); 2p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday (11/17); and from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday (11/18). Additional Methodological Decisions Branching Questions For many questions with multiple response options, we program our surveys to branch into a secondary probing question. Don t Know & Refused Response Options All questions include an option for respondents to volunteer don t know or to refuse. In the vast majority of questions, interviewers do not prompt don t know responses. Weighting We typically weight results from the Elon University Poll on multiple demographic characteristics: race, gender, household size, region, education, and age. Weighting rarely leads to substantial changes in results. We use iterative raking, adjusting one dimension at a time. We include detailed information about weighting of survey samples for each poll on both the Elon University Poll website and within released reports. Within Household Randomization For landlines, we use the common oldest-youngest technique to ensure within household randomization. We assume cellphones belong to an individual rather than a household. Thus, we do not conduct within-household randomization within our cellphone sample. 39

40 Completion Criteria An interview is a complete only if a respondent progresses through the entire survey. Respondents who hang up before completing the last question or who refuse to more than 10 % of the questions are incompletes. Support for Transparency The Elon University Poll supports transparency in survey research and is a supporter of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative, which is a program promoting openness and transparency about survey research methods and operations among survey research professionals and the industry. All information about the Elon University Poll that we released to the public conforms to reporting conventions recommended by the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the National Council on Public Polls. Question Construction and Question Order In releasing survey results, the Elon University Poll provides the questions as worded and the order in which respondents receive these questions. In some cases question ordering rotates to avoid biases. In an effort to provide neutral, non-biased questions, we attempt to observe conventional question wording and question order protocols in all of our polls. In order to avoid recency or primacy effects, we randomize candidate names and directional response options (e.g. support / oppose) within the text of each question. We pretest every questionnaire multiple times before entering the field. Sampling Survey Sampling International, LLC, provide samples of telephone numbers. To equalize the probability of telephone selection, sample telephone numbers are systematically stratified according to subpopulation strata (e.g., a zip code, a county, etc.), which yields a sample from telephone exchanges in proportion to each exchange's share of telephone households in the population of interest. Estimates of telephone households in the population of interest are generally obtained from several databases. Samples of household telephone numbers are distributed across all eligible blocks of numbers in proportion to the density of listed households assigned in the population of interest according to a specified subpopulation stratum. Upon determining the projected (or preferred) sample size, a sampling interval is calculated by summing the number of listed residential numbers in each eligible block within the population of interest and dividing that sum by the number of sampling points assigned to the population. From a random start between zero and the sampling interval, blocks are selected systematically in proportion to the density of listed household "working blocks." A block (also known as a bank) is a set of contiguous numbers identified by the first two digits of the last four digits of a telephone number. A working block contains three or more working telephone numbers. Exchanges are assigned to a population on the basis of all eligible blocks in proportion to the density of working telephone households. Once each population's proportion of telephone households is determined, then a sampling interval, based on that proportion, is calculated and specific exchanges and numbers are randomly selected. 40

41 The wireless component of the study sample starts with determining which area codeexchange combinations in North Carolina are included in the wireless or shared Telcordia types. Similar to the process for selecting household telephone numbers, wireless numbers involve a multi-step process in which blocks of numbers are determined for each area codeexchange combination in the Telcordia types. From a random start within the first sampling interval, a systematic nth selection of each block of numbers is performed and a two-digit random number between 00 and 99 is appended to each selected nth block stem. The intent is to provide a stratification that will yield a sample that is representative both geographically and by large and small carrier. From these, a random sample is generated. Because exchanges and numbers are randomly selected, unlisted as well as listed numbers are included in the sample. Thus, the sample of numbers generated for the population of interest constitutes a random sample of telephone households and wireless numbers of the population. Frequently Asked Questions about our Methodology 1. Who pays for the Elon University Poll? Elon University fully funds the Elon University Poll. 2. Does the Elon University Poll favor a certain party? The Elon University Poll is an academic, non-partisan survey. We do not engage or work with any political candidates or parties. We employ best practices to ensure the results are not biased. 3. Where do you get your numbers? We obtain samples of randomized phone numbers from Survey Sample International. 4. How many times do you call a number before giving up? We will attempt to call each working number up to five times before removing it from the sample. 5. Do you call both cell phones and land lines? Yes. We use a mixed sample of both cell phones and landlines. We weight on phone ownership to adjust for the higher probability of selection of those who own both cell phones and landline phones. 6. Does the Elon University Poll do IVR surveys or automated robopolls? No. Well-trained students at Elon University conduct all our interviewers. 7. Do you report non-response rates? Yes. We report non-response rates based on AAPOR guidelines. The response rate for the November 2013 Poll was 9.3%, which approximates or exceeds the national average response rates of other high quality survey organizations. The response rate is 41

42 calculated using the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) formula RR4. 8. Do you weight the data? Yes. We apply weights to the data. An iterative proportional fitting algorithm generates weights based on Census parameters of residents in North Carolina. 9. Do you randomize response options? Yes. We rotate the order of candidate names in all applicable questions. We also rotate order of text for other questions, such as those that include response options such as more and less. Furthermore, we rotate the order of some questions themselves if we suspect the order of a question could bias results. 10. Do you conduct within-household randomization? Yes. For landlines, we use the common oldest-youngest rotation to ensure within household randomization. We assume cellphones belong to an individual rather than a household. Thus, we do not conduct within-household randomization within our cellphone sample. 42

43 The Elon University Poll Team Dr. Kenneth Fernandez is the Director of the Elon University Poll. Dr. Fernandez holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from University of California Riverside. Dr. Fernandez is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies at Elon University. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed social science journals. Dr. Jason Husser is the Assistant director. Dr. Husser holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Husser is also Assistant Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies at Elon University. He recently published an article on public opinion in the American Journal of Political Science. He was previously the Associate Coordinator of the Vanderbilt University Poll. John Robinson serves as Director of Communications for the Poll. He is a former newspaper editor, veteran journalist, and North Carolina native. Fernandez Husser Daniel Anderson is Vice President of Elon University Communications. Eric Townsend is Director of the Elon University News Bureau. Both work very closely with the directors in communicating results of the poll. Faculty members in the Department of Political Science, chaired by Dr. Sharon Spray, are also involved in advising the directors. The poll operates under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences at Elon University, led by Dean Alison Morrison-Shetlar. The Elon University administration, led by Dr. Leo Lambert, president of the university, fully supports the Elon University Poll as part of its service commitment to state, regional, and national constituents. Robinson Elon University fully funds the Elon University Poll. Because of this generous support, the Elon University poll does not engage in any contract work. This permits the Elon University Poll to operate as a neutral, non-biased, non-partisan resource. Elon University students administer the survey as part of the University s commitment to civic engagement and experiential learning where students learn through doing. Student interviewers receive extensive training prior to engaging in interviewing. A team of student supervisors (led by Mary Young 14) assists the directors with quality control and monitoring. 43

44 For more information on the Elon University Poll, visit Or contact: Kenneth E. Fernandez, Ph.D. Director of the Elon University Poll & Assistant Professor of Political Science (336) Jason A. Husser, Ph.D. Assistant Director of the Elon University Poll & Assistant Professor of Political Science (336)