What North Carolina thinks: Wording III

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:03:30 -0500

Can one question get the answers on the death penalty?

Elon University pollster Hunter Bacot says no.

He cites social science research dating back to the 1970s that has found significant differences in poll results based on how the question is asked.

Simply asking if respondents support the death penalty is not enough, he says. A large majority will usually answer yes, though some theorize that's because they are looking for a suitably harsh punishment for crimes such as first-degree murder.

But when presented with an alternative, such as life in prison without the possibility of parole, support drops dramatically.

"At the minimum, you have to at least ask about the death penalty and an alternative," Bacot says.

That would call into question polls done by the conservative Civitas Institute.

More after the jump.

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What North Carolina thinks: Wording III