State bills that poll well

Which state bills have the most support?

Recent surveys by the Elon University Poll, the conservative Civitas Institute and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling have shown broad agreement on a number of issues.

Below, the percentage in support and the corresponding bill:

H.B. 361: Defense of Marriage (76 percent, Civitas)

S.B. 155: Community College Can't Admit Illegal Aliens (74 percent, PPP)

H.B. 88: Healthy Youth Act (69 percent, PPP)

H.B. 2: Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places. (67 percent, Elon; 64 percent PPP)

S.B. 12: Ban Mobile Phone Use While Driving (66 percent, Elon)

H.B. 35: Independent Redistricting Commission (55 percent, Civitas)

Correction: A previous version of this post included S.B. 161, which would overturn the moratorium on the death penalty. Polling data is conflicted on this issue, so it has been removed from the list.

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Re: State bills that poll well

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on March 4, 2009 - 11:16am.

Fair enough. I've posted a follow-up to address this question.

— RTB

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Re: State bills that poll well

Submitted by MKleinschmidt on March 4, 2009 - 11:01am.

I think I understand how you got that number. You used general support for the death penalty (58%) to claim support for a bill that would re-authorize executions. Wouldn't a better use of the Elon polling data have been to report that in fact MORE people (46.6) actually SUPPORT the current moratorium than DON'T (44.7), or at the very least to have reported that opinion is split down the middle (since the margin of error is 3.6 pts).

The story of the Elon poll is that while most North Carolinians support the death penalty in theory (58%), less than half actually name it as the most appropriate punishment for first-degree murder (47.8). The question about the moratorium is important because it suggests that there are strong concerns in the minds of about half our citizens that if we're going to have a death penalty, it needs some work.

You may disagree with what I believe the numbers suggest when looked at together, but one thing the moratorium question certainly does reveal is that S.B. 161: Execution/Physician Assistance Authorized IS NOT a bill that belongs on a list of bills over which there is "broad agreement." Even adding the margin of error (44.7 + 3.6 = 48.3), less than half of North Carolinians disagree with the moratorium.

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Re: State bills that poll well

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on March 4, 2009 - 10:24am.

Not a direct question. You're right that support is mixed, but the point is that there is a moratorium on the death penalty right now which the bill would overturn. This question shows support for the death penalty generally.

— RTB

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Re: State bills that poll well

Submitted by MKleinschmidt on March 4, 2009 - 9:59am.

After reading this, I went to the Elon poll site and reviewed the questions related to the death penalty. To my surprise less than half of respondents (47.8) believe the death penalty is the most appropriate punishment for first-degree murder and only 58% support the death penalty generally -- a number that has been decreasing slowly but steadily for a decade now.

Also, a plurality -- 46.6 support the halt on executions that has been in place in recent years.

I didn't see a question about support for S.B. 161

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