About the study
The National Agenda Opinion Project research was funded by the University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communication (CPC) and the UNIDEL Foundation. The study was supervised by the CPC’s Coordinator for Public Opinion Initiatives, David C. Wilson, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and the CPC’s Assistant Director for Research, Paul Brewer, a Professor in the Department of Communication.
Method
Results are based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 906 adults living in the continental United States. Telephone interviews were carried out using a dual sampling frame consisting of both landline (n=551) and cell phone (n=355, including 158 without a landline phone) extensions. The survey was managed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI), and the data were collected through English only interviews by Princeton Data Source. The data were collected from May 30 to June 5, 2012. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is ± 3.9 percentage points. This estimate includes a calculated “design effect.” Readers should be aware that in addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls. Please contact David C. Wilson at (302) 831-1935 for more details about the survey’s methodology.
Question wording
Question wording and Topline Frequencies (* Totals may not sum to exactly 100% due to rounding)
Now, I have a few questions about voter identification laws, or voter ID laws.
ASK ALL:
Q18. How familiar are you with the issue of voter ID laws? Are you …
34% Not at all familiar
43% Somewhat familiar or
22% Very familiar?
0% Don’t know (VOL.)
1% Refused (VOL.)
IF Q18=”not at all familiar,” “somewhat familiar,” “don’t know,” or a refusal
READ: “Voter ID laws require individuals to show a form of government issued identification when they attempt to vote.”
If Q18=”very familiar”
READ: “As you know, voter ID laws require individuals to show a form of government issued identification when they attempt to vote.”
ASK FORM A:
Q19a. What is your opinion? Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose voter ID laws?
50% Strongly favor
29% Favor
9% Oppose
10% Strongly oppose
2% Don’t know (VOL.)
2% Refused (VOL.)
ASK FORM B:
Q19b. Supporters of voter ID laws argue they are necessary to keep people who aren’t eligible to vote from voting. What is your opinion; do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose voter ID laws?
46% Strongly favor
29% Favor
9% Oppose
9% Strongly oppose
3% Don’t know (VOL.)
3% Refused (VOL.)
ASK FORM C:
Q19c. Supporters of voter ID laws argue they are necessary to keep people from voting multiple times. What is your opinion; do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose voter ID laws?
45% Strongly favor
31% Favor
8% Oppose
12% Strongly oppose
2% Don’t know (VOL.)
1% Refused (VOL.)
ASK FORM D:
Q19d. Opponents of voter ID laws argue they can actually prevent people who are eligible to vote from voting. What is your opinion; do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose voter ID laws?
33% Strongly favor
34% Favor
14% Oppose
16% Strongly oppose
1% Don’t know (VOL.)
3% Refused (VOL.)
ASK FORM E:
Q19e. Opponents of voter ID laws argue they are unnecessary because voter fraud is very rare. What is your opinion; do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose voter ID laws?
44% Strongly favor
35% Favor
9% Oppose
9% Strongly oppose
1% Don’t know (VOL.)
2% Refused (VOL.)
Q21. If you had to say, how common or rare is voting fraud during the typical election—very common, somewhat common, somewhat rare, or very rare?
13% Very common
29% Somewhat common
26% Somewhat rare
23% Very rare
<1% Depends (VOL.)
9% Don’t know (VOL.)
<1% Refused (VOL.)
Racial Resentment Scale
ASK IF NOT AFRICAN-AMERICAN (RACE=1,3-9),
READ: Next, the following statements represent views that some people might have, while others have different views.
Q24. Please tell me how strongly you AGREE or DISAGREE with each of the following statements. The first one is: ____________ do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with this statement?
a. I resent any special considerations that Africans Americans receive because it’s unfair to other Americans.
15% Strongly agree
23% Somewhat agree
23% Somewhat disagree
21% Strongly disagree
4% Don’t know (VOL.)
3% Refused (VOL.)
10% Not Applicable
b. Special considerations for African Americans place me at an unfair disadvantage because I have done nothing to harm them.
18% Strongly agree
18% Somewhat agree
20% Somewhat disagree
26% Strongly disagree
5% Don’t know (VOL.)
3% Refused (VOL.)
10% Not Applicable
c. African Americans bring up race only when they need to make an excuse for their failure.
12% Strongly agree
22% Somewhat agree
23% Somewhat disagree
26% Strongly disagree
3% Don’t know (VOL.)
2% Refused (VOL.)
10% Not Applicable
