Hot Topics
Survey Reports
July 13, 2000
Voter Turnout May Slip Again
Questionnaire Part 1
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
JUNE 2000 VOTER ATTITUDES SURVEY 21ST CENTURY VOTER
FINAL TOPLINE
June 14 - 28, 2000
N=2,174
FORM 1, ASK Q.1 THEN Q.2; FORM 2, ASK Q.2, THEN Q.1
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his
job as President? [IF DK ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH:
Overall do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling
his job as President? IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Approve Disapprove Don't Know
June, 2000 56 35 9=100
May, 2000 57 33 10=100
April, 2000 57 31 12=100
March, 2000 57 35 8=100
February, 2000 58 33 9=100
January, 2000 56 35 9=100
December, 1999 55 35 10=100
October, 1999 59 34 7=100
Late September, 1999 59 33 8=100
September, 1999 56 36 8=100
July, 1999 58 31 11=100
June, 1999 55 35 10=100
May, 1999 56 34 10=100
April, 1999 56 38 6=100
March, 1999 62 31 7=100
February, 1999 64 30 6=100
Mid-January, 1999 66 29 5=100
January, 1999 63 30 7=100
Late December, 1998 71 27 2=100
Early December, 1998 61 32 7=100
November, 1998 65 29 6=100
September 21-22, 1998 62 33 5=100
September 19-20, 1998 55 36 9=100
Early September, 1998 61 33 6=100
Late August, 1998 62 32 6=100
Early August, 1998 63 28 9=100
June, 1998 59 32 9=100
May, 1998 62 28 10=100
April, 1998 62 28 10=100
March, 1998 65 26 9=100
Early February, 1998 71 26 3=100
January, 1998 61 30 9=100
November, 1997 58 31 11=100
September, 1997 58 29 13=100
August, 1997 59 32 9=100
June, 1997 54 34 12=100
May, 1997 57 34 9=100
April, 1997 55 34 11=100
February, 1997 60 32 8=100
Early February, 1997 57 30 13=100
January, 1997 59 31 10=100
November, 1996 57 34 9=100
July, 1996 54 38 8=100
June, 1996 54 38 8=100
April, 1996 53 39 8=100
March, 1996 55 38 7=100
February, 1996 51 39 10=100
January, 1996 50 43 7=100
October, 1995 48 42 10=100
September, 1995 45 42 13=100
August, 1995 44 44 12=100
June, 1995 50 40 10=100
April, 1995 47 43 10=100
March, 1995 44 44 12=100
February, 1995 44 44 12=100
December, 1994 41 47 12=100
November, 1994 48 40 12=100
October, 1994 41 47 12=100
Early October, 1994 38 47 15=100
September, 1994 41 52 7=100
July, 1994 45 46 9=100
June, 1994 42 44 14=100
May, 1994 46 42 12=100
March, 1994 45 42 13=100
January, 1994 51 35 14=100
Early January, 1994 48 35 17=100
December, 1993 48 36 16=100
October, 1993 44 42 14=100
September, 1993 49 35 16=100
Early September, 1993 43 43 14=100
August, 1993 39 46 15=100
May, 1993 39 43 18=100
Early May, 1993 45 37 18=100
April, 1993 49 29 22=100
February, 1993 56 25 19=100
On another subject...
Q.2 Now I'd like your views on the state of the nation...
All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are
going in this country today?
Satisfied Dissatisfied No Opinion
June, 2000 47 45 8=100
April, 2000 48 43 9=100
August, 1999 56 39 5=100
January, 1999 53 41 6=100
November, 1998 46 44 10=100
Early September, 1998 54 42 4=100
Late August, 1998 55 41 4=100
Early August, 1998 50 44 6=100
February, 1998 59 37 4=100
January, 1998 46 50 4=100
September, 1997 45 49 6=100
August, 1997 49 46 5=100
January, 1997 38 58 4=100
July, 1996 29 67 4=100
March, 1996 28 70 2=100
October, 1995 23 73 4=100
June, 1995 25 73 2=100
April, 1995 23 74 3=100
July, 1994 24 73 3=100
March, 1994 24 71 5=100
October, 1993 22 73 5=100
September, 1993 20 75 4=100
May, 1993 22 71 7=100
January, 1993 39 50 11=100
January, 1992 28 68 4=100
November, 1991 34 61 5=100
Late February, 1991 (Gallup) 66 31 3=100
August, 1990 47 48 5=100
May, 1990 41 54 5=100
January, 1989 45 50 5=100
September, 1988 50 45 5=100
May, 1988 41 54 5=100
January, 1988 39 55 6=100
Q.3Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past
month. As I read each item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely,
fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely? [READ AND ROTATE LIST]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all (VOL)
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK
a. News about candidates for the
2000 presidential election 23 32 23 21 1=100
April, 2000 18 33 26 23 *=100
Early April, 2000 18 39 22 20 1=100
March, 2000 26 41 19 13 1=100
February, 2000 26 36 21 17 *=100
January, 2000 19 34 28 18 1=100
December, 1999 16 36 24 23 1=100
October, 1999 17 32 28 22 1=100
September, 1999 15 31 33 20 1=100
July, 1999 15 38 24 22 1=100
June, 1999 11 25 29 34 1=100
July, 1996 22 40 23 14 1=100
July, 1992 20 45 26 9 *=100
May, 1988 22 46 23 6 3=100
b. A federal judge's ruling that
the computer company Microsoft
should be broken up into two
separate companies, because it
engaged in unfair business
practices 28 37 17 17 1=100
May, 2000 16 33 26 25 *=100
c. Recent increases in the price
of gasoline 61 25 9 5 *=100
March, 2000 58 28 10 4 *=100
October, 1990 62 26 8 4 *=100
September, 1990 56 28 11 5 *=100
August, 1990 57 27 10 5 1=100
d. The recent summit in Moscow
between President Clinton
and Russian President Putin 9 20 28 42 1=100
April, 1997 6 20 33 40 1=100
e. Reports that computer files
containing nuclear secrets are
missing from Los Alamos national
laboratory 25 27 19 28 1=100
Q.4 How much thought have you given to the coming Presidential election
quite a lot or only a little?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1,673]:
Late Early ----- Gallup -----
May Nov Oct Sept Sept July June Oct Sept Aug June Nov Oct Aug Sept
2000 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1992 1992 1992 1992 1988 1988 1988 1988
46 Quite a lot 48 67 65 61 56 55 50 77 69 72 63 73 69 61 57
6 Some (VOL.) 4 8 7 7 3 3 5 5 3 4 6 8 9 10 18
43 Only a little 42 22 26 29 36 41 41 16 26 23 29 17 20 27 23
5 None (VOL.) 5 3 1 2 4 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
* DK/Refused 1 * 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 * 1 0 0 0 0
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.5 Are you more interested or less interested in politics this year than you
were in 1996 the last presidential election year?
July June June March
1996 1996 1992 1992
38 More 42 41 55 57
38 Less 38 35 24 27
22 Same (VOL.) 19 22 19 14
2 Don't know/Refused 1 2 2 2
100 100 100 100 100
Q.6 How have you been getting most of your news about the Presidential election campaign?
From television, from newspapers, from radio, from magazines, or from the Internet?
(ACCEPT TWOANSWERS; IF ONLY ONE RESPONSE IS GIVEN, PROBE FOR ONE ADDITIONAL RESPONSE)
Any others?
Feb Jan Sept April Feb Sept Jun May March Feb
2000 2000 1996 1996 1996 1992 1992 1992 1992 1992
65 Television 73 75 75 81 85 83 84 86 83 80
27 Newspapers 33 31 44 48 56 49 55 51 48 49
11 Radio 15 12 14 21 21 13 18 17 14 18
2 Magazines 2 3 5 6 5 5 7 6 4 4
5 Internet 7 6 2 2 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
2 Other 2 3 2 3 1 4 4 3 3 3
2 Don't know/Refused 1 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 * 1
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' TELEVISION IN Q.6 ASK:
Q.7 Do you get most of your news about the presidential campaign from network TV news, from local
TV news, or from cable news networks such as CNN and MSNBC? (ACCEPT TWO ANSWERS; DO NOT PROBE)
QUESTION ASKED JUNE 19-28, 2000 [N=797]:
Feb Jan Sept April
2000 2000 1996 1996
17 Network 20 24 29 39
24 Local 28 25 31 34
25 Cable 30 31 25 23
1 Other (VOL.) 2 1 1 2
* Don't know/Refused 1 1 1 1
Q.8 Ordinarily, do you find that you go looking for the latest news about the
presidential campaign, OR do you typically happen to come across campaign news
without looking for it?
15 Go looking for campaign news
83 Come across campaign news without looking
2 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.9 Now, suppose the 2000 presidential election were being held TODAY. If you had to
choose between Al Gore, the Democrat; George W. Bush, the Republican; Pat Buchanan,
of the Reform Party; and Ralph Nader, of the Green Party who would you vote for?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '5' OTHER OR '9' DON'T KNOW IN Q.9, ASK:
Q.9a As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to Gore, the Democrat; Bush, the Republican; Buchanan,
of the Reform Party; or Nader, of the Green Party?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS:
June June
23-30 14-21
35 42 Gore/Lean Gore
42 41 Bush/Lean Bush
2 3 Buchanan/Lean Buchanan
2 4 Nader/Lean Nader
19 10 Undecided/Other/DK
100 100
(N=463)(N=1,509)
NOTE: Q.10-Q.14 BASED ON RESPONDENTS INTERVIEWED JUNE 14-21,2000 [N=1,958]
ASK ALL:
Q.10 Suppose there were only two major candidates for president and you had to choose between
Al Gore, the Democrat; and George W. Bush, the Republican. Who would you vote for?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' GORE OR '2' BUSH IN Q.10, ASK:
Q.10a Do you support (INSERT CHOICE FROM Q.10) strongly, or only moderately?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '3' OTHER OR '9' DON'T KNOW IN Q.10, ASK:
Q.10b As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to Gore, the Democrat; or Bush, the Republican?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1,509]: Early
June May March Feb Dec Oct Sept Aug July March Jan Sept
14-21 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998
46 Gore/Lean Gore 45 49 45 40 39 39 41 42 41 44 40
18 Strongly - - 18 - - - - - - - -
27 Moderately - - 26 - - - - - - - -
1 Don't Know - - 1 - - - - - - - -
45 Bush/Lean Bush 46 43 46 55 54 54 53 53 54 50 53
20 Strongly - - 19 - - - - - - - -
25 Moderately - - 27 - - - - - - - -
* Don't Know - - * - - - - - - - -
9 Undecided/Other/DK 9 8 9 5 7 7 6 5 5 6 7
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
June 1996 June 1992
Clinton/Lean Clinton 55 41
Strongly 22 9
Moderately 32 32
Don't Know 1 -
Dole/Lean Dole or Bush/Lean Bush 40 45
Strongly 13 14
Moderately 26 31
Don't Know 1 -
Undecided/Other/Don't know 5 14
100 100
IF DID NOT CHOOSE GORE IN Q.10 OR Q.10b ASK [N=832]:
Q.11 Do you think there is a chance that you might vote for Al Gore in November, or have you
definitely decided not to vote for him?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS:
June Clinton
14-21 July 1996
14 Chance might vote for him 8
34 Decided not to vote for him 36
6 Don't know/Refused 4
54% 48%
IF DID NOT CHOOSE BUSH IN Q.10 OR Q.10b, ASK [N=803]:
Q.12 Do you think there is a chance that you might vote for George W. Bush in November,
or have you definitely decided not to vote for him?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS:
June Dole
14-21 July 1996
15 Chance might vote for him 15
33 Decided not to vote for him 40
7 Don't know/Refused 3
55% 58%
Q.13 What do you like most about (INSERT NAME CHOSEN FROM Q.10 OR Q.10b) his personality,
his leadership ability, his experience, or his stand on issues?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS WHO CHOSE GORE OR BUSH IN Q.10/Q.10b:
Personality Leadership Experience Stand on issues Don't know
Al Gore (6/14-21) 7 13 29 42 9=100 (N=677)
May, 2000 10 13 30 40 7=100
March, 2000 10 14 28 40 8=100
October, 1999 8 11 32 43 6=100
George W. Bush (6/14-21) 10 19 11 50 10=100 (N=706)
May, 2000 12 22 8 51 7=100
March, 2000 14 24 10 42 10=100
October, 1999 13 25 11 42 9=100
Q.14 What do you like LEAST about (INSERT NAME NOT CHOSEN FROM Q.10 OR Q.10b) his
personality, his leadership ability, his experience, or his stand on issues?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS WHO CHOSE GORE OR BUSH IN Q.10/Q.10b:
Personality Leadership Experience Stand on issues Don't know
Al Gore (6/14-21) 17 19 6 43 15=100 (N=706)
May, 2000 22 22 6 41 9=100
March, 2000 22 20 5 43 10=100
October, 19998 24 22 5 39 10=100
George W. Bush (6/14-21) 26 13 10 34 17=100 (N=677)
May, 2000 25 13 13 35 14=100
March, 2000 33 8 13 35 11=100
October, 19998 19 11 13 41 16=100
ASK ALL:
Q.15 So far, do you think news organizations are giving too much coverage to the 2000
presidential campaign, too little coverage to the campaign , or the right amount of coverage?
March Feb Sept July March Oct Sept Feb Oct May Nov
2000 2000 1999 1999 1996 1995 1992 1992 1991 1988 1987
19 Too much 25 22 28 18 29 18 22 19 12 24 21
16 Too little 10 10 14 13 10 18 11 15 22 7 16
60 Right amount 61 63 49 59 58 60 62 62 58 62 58
5 Don't know/Refused 4 5 9 10 3 4 5 4 8 7 5
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.16 What one issue would you most like to hear presidential candidates talk about?
(OPEN-END. ACCEPT UP TO THREE MENTIONS.)
QUESTION ASKED JUNE 14-21 [N=1,958]:
July Sep Oct Oct
1999 1996 1995 1991
12 Education/Education reform 9 11 6 11
11 Economy 4 13 14 43
11 Health care reform/Health care in general 18 14 20 8
10 Social Security 14 - - -
7 Taxes 9 16 8 6
6 Foreign Policy 6 4 5 -
5 Crime/Drugs 7 6 9 5
5 Gun control 7 - - -
4 Gas prices - - - -
3 Moral issues/Ethics 6 5 8 -
3 Abortion 1 4 - -
2 Child care/Family issues - - - -
2 Medicare 11 - - -
2 Senior citizens/elderly - - - -
2 The job situation/Unemployment 2 8 6 15
2 Poverty/Homelessness - - - -
2 Size of government - - - -
2 Federal budget/Budget deficit/National debt 8 10 14 8
1 Welfare reform 2 12 8 -
1 Race relations 1 * 2 -
1 Campaign finance reform 1 3 4 -
13 Other issues 10 16 10 27
16 Don't know/Refused 13 6 6 13
Q.17 As it's shaping up so far, what's your opinion of the likely presidential
candidates for this year? Would you say that you are very satisfied, fairly satisfied,
not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied with the likely choices?
Based on Registered Voters
Late Late
March July Oct Sept June Oct Aug June
Total RVs 2000 1999 1996 1996 1996 1992 1992 1992
13 14 Very satisfied 13 13 11 11 9 10 11 6
49 50 Fairly satisfied 47 40 48 50 37 41 42 31
22 22 Not too satisfied 27 25 27 26 31 33 31 35
12 11 Not at all satisfied 11 12 11 10 19 14 15 26
4 3 Don't know/Refused 2 10 3 3 4 2 1 2
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
(N=1,673)
Q.18 What's your impression...do George W. Bush and Al Gore take different positions on the issues,
or are they pretty similar in their positions on the issues?
July 1999
Total RVs Total RVs
49 51 Different 43 47
33 33 Similar 25 24
18 16 Don't know/Refused 32 29
100 100 100 100
(N=1,673)
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1,089]:
Q.19 Some people think who we elect as president is not as important THESE DAYS compared
to the 1970s and 1980s. Other people think who we elect as president THESE DAYS is just
as important as then. Which comes closer to your view?
21 Who we elect as president is not as important these days compared to the 1970s and 1980s
74 Who we elect as president these days is just as important as then
5 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1,085]:
Q.20 As far as making progress on the important issues facing the country is concerned,
does it really matter who wins the 2000 presidential election, or will things be pretty
much the same regardless of who is elected president?
Opinion Research Corporation
Aug 1976
45 Really matters who wins the 2000 presidential election 45
Things will pretty much be the same regardless of who
49 is elected president 46
6 Don't know/Refused 9
100 100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1,089]:
Q.21 Some people feel it is difficult to choose between Al Gore and George W. Bush
because EITHER ONE would make a good president. Do you agree, or disagree?
32 Agree
61 Disagree
7 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1,085]:
Q.22 Some people feel it is difficult to choose between Al Gore and George W. Bush
because NEITHER ONE would make a good president. Do you agree, or disagree?
37 Agree
55 Disagree
8 Don't know/Refused
100
On another subject...
Q.23 A year from now, do you expect that economic conditions in the country as a whole
will be better than they are at present, or worse, or just about the same as now?
Early
Sept May Feb Sept May Jan Jan
1998 1990 1989 1988 1988 1988 1984
15 Better 18 18 25 24 24 22 35
24 Worse 17 31 22 16 20 26 13
55 Same 61 45 49 51 46 45 49
6 Don't know/Refused 4 6 4 9 10 7 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.24 How would you rate your own personal financial situation? Would you say you are in
excellent shape, good shape, only fair shape, or poor shape?
(RV) U.S. News & World Report
Aug May Sept Mar Dec Jan Oct Aug May Jan
1999 1997 1996 1994 1993 1993 1992 1992 1992 1992
9 Excellent shape 6 7 8 5 5 4 6 5 4 4
43 Good shape 43 43 47 41 34 33 34 30 35 32
35 Only fair shape 41 38 34 40 45 46 40 47 45 45
11 OR poor shape 9 11 10 13 15 16 19 17 15 18
2 DK/Ref 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.25 Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of
the time, whether there's an election or not. Other's aren't that interested. Would you
say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, some of
the time, only now and then, or hardly at all?
Most of Some of Only Now Hardly Don't know/
The Time the Time and Then at All Refused
June, 2000 38 32 19 11 *=100
Late September, 1999 39 32 20 9 *=100
August, 1999 40 35 17 8 *=100
November, 1998 46 27 14 13 *=100
October, 1998 (RVs) 57 29 10 4 *=100
Early October, 1998 (RVs) 51 33 11 5 *=100
Early September, 1998 45 34 15 6 *=100
June, 1998 36 34 21 9 *=100
November, 1997 41 36 16 7 *=100
November, 1996 (RVs) 52 32 12 4 *=100
October, 1996 (RVs) 43 37 13 6 1=100
June, 1996 41 34 17 8 *=100
October, 1995 46 35 14 5 *=100
April, 1995 43 35 16 6 *=100
November, 1994 49 30 13 7 1=100
October, 1994 45 35 14 6 *=100
July, 1994 46 33 15 6 *=100
May, 1990 39 34 18 9 *=100
February, 1989 47 34 14 4 1=100
October, 1988 52 33 11 4 *=100
September, 1988 58 32 8 2 *=100
May, 1988 37 37 17 6 3=100
January, 1988 37 35 18 8 2=100
November, 1987 49 32 14 4 1=100
May, 1987 41 35 15 7 2=100
July, 1985 36 33 18 12 1=100
Q.26 These days, many people are so busy they can't find time to register to vote, or
move around so often they don't get a chance to re-register. Are you NOW registered
to vote in your precinct or election district or haven't you been able to register
so far?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' YES IN Q.26, ASK:
Q.27 Are you absolutely certain that you are registered to vote or is there a chance
that your registration has lapsed because you moved or for some other reason?
Yes, Absolutely Chance No, Not
Registered Certain Lapsed DK/Ref Registered DK/Ref.
June, 2000 79 75 4 * 21 *=100
Late September, 1999 74 69 5 * 24 2=100
Early September, 1998 77 74 3 * 22 1=100
Late August, 1998 78 75 3 * 22 *=100
June, 1998 78 73 4 1 22 *=100
November, 1997 80 75 4 1 20 *=100
September, 1997 79 76 3 * 20 1=100
November, 1996 76 69 2 * 24 *=100
June, 1996 79 75 4 0 21 *=100
October, 1995 76 73 3 * 23 1=100
April, 1995 76 74 2 0 23 1=100
December, 1994 74 70 3 1 24 2=100
November, 1994 73 70 2 1 26 1=100
Late October, 1994 77 74 3 0 22 1=100
Early October, 1994 76 72 4 * 23 1=100
July, 1994 79 75 4 0 20 1=100
May, 1993 82 - - - 17 1=100
June, 1992 76 73 3 0 23 1=100
November, 1990 80 - - - 20 0=100
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '2' NO OR '9' NOT SURE IN Q.26 OR '2' CHANCE OR '9' NOT SURE IN
Q.27 ASK:
Q.28 Do you plan to register to vote, or is there a chance that you may not register?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '2' NO OR '9' NOT SURE IN Q.26 OR '2' CHANCE OR '9' NOT SURE IN
Q.27 ASK:
Q.29 Have you ever, at any time, been registered to vote, or haven't you ever had
the chance to register?
June 1992
25% Not registered 27%
11 Never have been 11
14 Have been in the past 16
* Not sure if ever *
13 Plan to register 17
11 Chance may not 9
1 Don't know/Refused 1
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