KAET-ASU Poll

Contact Dr. Bruce Merrill
(970) 927-0922
Can be used after 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2002

VOTERS WANT TO CONTINUE PARTIAL PUBLIC FUNDING OF ELECTIONS

ARIZONANS OPPOSE SALARY INCREASE FOR STATE LEGISLATORS; WANT TO KEEP THE STATE LOTTERY

A new poll by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University found that a majority of registered voters in Arizona want to retain a system that combines private and public funding of campaigns, in spite of the recent state court ruling against the Clean Elections fund. Also, Arizonans would vote against a proposed salary increase for state legislators, but clearly want to keep the state lottery-both issues that will appear on the ballot this November.

The poll of 430 registered voters in Arizona, conducted between June 20-23, 2002, found that half (51%) of Arizona's voters prefer a system of election campaigns that combines private and public funding. One-fourth (25%) support a system that relies exclusively on private money, and just 15% favor a system based solely on public funding. Ten percent (10%) did not have an opinion. A combined system is most popular among all groups of voters. Democrats (64%), however, prefer combined funding more strongly than do Republicans or "independents/others" (both 51%). Republicans, in contrast, are more likely (34%) to choose a system of private funding than are Democrats (20%). Accordingly, self-described liberals are more likely (63%) than conservatives (49%) to support combined funding, whereas 38% of conservatives favor private funding, compared to just 17% of liberals.*

The poll also found that 48% of the state's voters would cast their vote against a salary increase for state legislators, 39% would vote in favor, and 13% have not yet decided. Few differences emerged in the answers from different groups of respondents. Only respondents' education seems to influence opinions-52% of college graduates favor a salary increase, compared to 39% of those with less than a four-year college degree.

Finally, KAET and the Cronkite School found that a solid two-thirds majority (66%) would vote in favor of keeping the state lottery. Only 23% would vote against the lottery, and another 11% remain undecided. Democrats (79% in favor) and political "independents/others" (82% in favor) show stronger support for the lottery than do registered Republicans (68% in favor). Also, male voters (79% in favor) are more supportive than female voters (70% in favor).

This poll of 430 registered voters in Arizona voters has a sampling error of 4.7%. Forty-three percent (43%) of those interviewed are registered Republicans, 38% Democrats, and 19% "others." Fifty-six percent (56%) live in Maricopa County, 17% in Pima County, and 27% in other counties. Fifty-three percent (53%) are female, 47% male.

Q1: Arizonans will vote this November on a proposed salary increase for state legislators from $24,000 to $36,000. Will you likely vote in favor of or against a salary increase?

Q2: Also on this year's ballot, voters will decide whether to keep or do away with the state lottery. Will you likely vote in favor of or against keeping the state lottery?

Q3: A state court this week declared Arizona's current system of partial public funding of election campaigns, the so-called Clean Elections fund, to be unconstitutional, because it was found to violate the right to free speech. In general, do you think election campaigns should be financed solely with private funds, solely with public funds, or with some combination of private and public funds?

*All subgroup percentages, such as those based on party registration, gender, or political orientation, exclude "don't know" responses.

The KAET/Cronkite School poll uses "honest rounding" of percentages. Due to rounding error, some percentages may not total to 100%.

KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University