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Survey Reports
July 13, 2000
Voter Turnout May Slip Again
Questionnaire Part 2
Q.30 Do you, yourself, plan to vote in the election this November?
IF YES IN Q.30, ASK:
Q.31 How certain are you that you will vote? Are you absolutely certain, fairly
certain, or not certain?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1,673]:
Yes, Plan Absolutely Fairly Not No, Don't Can't Say/
To Vote Certain Certain Certain Plan To Don't know
June, 2000 95 84 10 1 2 3=100
Late October, 1998+ 91 - - - 6 3=100
Early October, 1998+ 92 - - - 4 4=100
Early September, 1998+ 95 - - - 2 3=100
Late August, 1998+ 93 75 17 1 3 4=100
June, 1998+ 95 74 19 2 3 2=100
November, 1996 96 - - - 2 2=100
October, 1996 98 87 10 1 1 1=100
September, 1996 98 89 8 1 1 1=100
September, 1996 96 83 11 2 2 2=100
July, 1996 95 82 12 1 3 2=100
June, 1996 96 84 11 1 2 2=100
November, 1994+ 71 - - - 26 3=100
October, 1994+ 95 - - - 3 2=100
October, 1992 98 91 6 1 1 1=100
September, 1992 98 85 11 2 1 1=100
August, 1992 97 89 8 * 1 2=100
June, 1992 97 88 8 1 1 2=100
Gallup: November, 1988 97 87 9 1 2 1=100
Gallup: October, 1988 98 - - - 1 1=100
+ Non-Presidential elections
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1,089]:
Q.32 Regardless of who you support, which one of the presidential candidates Al Gore or
George W. Bush do you think would do the best job of (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE ITEMS).
(IF ANSWERS ANYONE OTHER THAN GORE OR BUSH, ASK: If you had to choose between
Gore and Bush... )
George
Al Gore W. Bush Neither DK/Ref.
a. Keeping the economy strong 39 38 6 17=100
March, 2000 44 43 4 9=100
b. Keeping Social Security and
Medicare financially sound 41 35 6 18=100
March, 2000 47 36 5 12=100
c. Improving the health care system 43 29 7 21=100
March, 2000 49 33 5 13=100
d. Dealing with taxes 34 38 8 20=100
March, 2000 42 40 6 12=100
e. Improving education 43 34 6 17=100
March, 2000 41 44 4 11=100
f. Representing your views on gun control 35 35 5 25=100
March, 2000 41 37 5 17=100
g. Protecting and strengthening families 37 38 8 17=100
March, 2000 43 37 6 14=100
h. Making wise decisions about the
country's defense policy 33 43 6 18=100
i. Reducing partisan bickering and
conflict in Washington 28 30 18 24=100
j. Representing your views on the
death penalty 29 37 4 30=100
ITEM ONLY ASKED JUNE 15-28 [N=918]:
k. Controlling the price of gasoline 26 29 18 27=100
March, 2000 25 41 14 20=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1,085]:
Q.33 Now a few more questions about the presidential campaign... As I read a list of phrases,
tell me if you think each phrase better describes George W. Bush or Al Gore. (INSERT ITEM;
ROTATE ITEMS)
Al George Both
Gore W. Bush Neither Equally DK/Ref.
a. Would use good judgement in a crisis 36 41 6 6 11=100
b. Personally likeable 36 40 7 9 8=100
c. A typical politician 36 34 1 21 8=100
d. Can get things done 30 43 8 7 12=100
e. Honest and truthful 30 33 20 7 10=100
f. Has new ideas 31 36 13 8 12=100
g. Personally qualified to be president 37 36 10 10 7=100
h. Shares my values 35 38 12 5 10=100
i. Connects well with ordinary Americans 38 39 7 7 9=100
j. Willing to take a stand, even if it's
unpopular 32 44 10 5 9=100
Q.34 Again thinking about the presidential campaign...
How would you describe the presidential election campaign so far is it interesting to
you, or would you say it is dull?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '2' DULL IN Q.34, ASK:
Q.35 Why is the campaign not interesting to you? Is it because of (READ RESPONSES; ROTATE
ORDER)...
July 1996
28 Interesting 21
65 Dull 73
17 The quality of the candidates 20
18 The way the candidates are campaigning, OR 25
17 The way the press is covering the election. 16
9 Something else (VOL.) 10
4 Don't know/Refused 2
4 Neither (VOL.) 3
3 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
ROTATE ORDER OF Q.36 AND Q.37
Q.36 What grade would you give Al Gore as to how good a job he is doing in convincing
you to vote for him? Would you grade his election campaign: A, B, C, D, or F?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1,673]: Clinton
July 1996
9 A 9
26 B 28
31 C 30
13 D 12
16 F 18
5 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
Q.37 What grade would you give George W. Bush as to how good a job he is doing in
convincing you to vote for him? Would you grade his election campaign: A, B, C,
D, or F?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1,673]: Dole
July 1996
10 A 3
30 B 19
29 C 36
13 D 19
13 F 20
5 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
Q.38 All in all, how would you rate the job the press has done in covering the presidential
campaign so far excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
March Feb Sept July Feb Sept May March Feb
2000 2000 1996 1996 1996 1992 1992 1992 1992
7 Excellent 10 13 13 7 16 12 10 12 11
41 Good 46 50 44 35 45 45 44 51 45
38 Only fair 32 25 29 42 25 27 33 28 32
10 Poor 9 7 11 14 10 11 10 6 7
4 Don't know/Refused 3 5 3 2 4 5 3 3 5
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.39 Regardless of who you support, who do you think WILL be elected President in November
Al Gore, or George W. Bush?
Oct 1999 July 1996
34 Al Gore 23 71 -- Clinton
51 George W. Bush 70 19 -- Dole
n/a Other (VOL.) 1 2 -- Perot
15 Don't know/Refused 6 8
100 100 100
Q.40 Do you plan to watch the televised debates between the presidential candidates, or not?
Oct 1992
69 Yes, plan to watch 83
27 No 11
4 Don't know/Refused 6
100 100
Q.41 Which would you prefer...(READ; ROTATE ORDER)
A campaign where the candidates talked about the issues and each other in TV
36 ads and in one or two debates
OR
A campaign where the candidates talked about the issues and each other in weekly
54 debates, but ran NO TV ads
10 Don't know/Refused
100
On another subject...
Q.42 How often would you say you vote always, nearly always, part of the time, or seldom?
Nearly Part of (VOL.)
Always Always The time Seldom Other Never DK/Ref.
June, 2000 46 24 11 11 1 7 *=100
Late September, 1999 28 41 15 9 1 5 1=100
Early September, 1998 43 29 13 11 3 0 1=100
Late August, 1998 38 30 16 14 * 6 *=100
June, 1998 40 29 15 12 4 0 *=100
November, 1997 33 38 15 9 * 5 *=100
September, 1997 51 23 11 10 * 5 *=100
June, 1996 41 30 12 12 1 4 *=100
February, 1996 32 34 15 11 1 6 1=100
October, 1995 41 32 12 11 * 3 1=100
April, 1995 42 29 12 11 * 6 *=100
November, 1994 43 24 11 13 1 8 *=100
October, 1994 43 28 13 10 5 1 *=100
July, 1994 40 30 14 11 * 5 *=100
June, 1992 47 26 10 11 1 5 *=100
May, 1992 41 32 13 11 * 3 *=100
November, 1991 38 37 13 9 0 3 *=100
May, 1990 33 35 12 10 1 8 1=100
February, 1989 45 30 10 8 1 6 *=100
January, 1988 39 33 12 8 1 6 1=100
May, 1987 34 37 11 6 2 9 1=100
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED ANYTHING OTHER THAN "ALWAYS" IN Q.42, ASK [N=1,131]:
Q.43 I am going to read some reasons why some people have told us they don't always
vote. For each statement, please tell me whether you completely agree with it,
mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it or completely disagree with it.
The first one is... (READ ITEMS; ROTATE)
Completely Mostly Mostly Completely
Agree Agree Disagree Disagree DK/Ref.
a. I sometimes feel I don't know enough
about the candidates to vote 23 41 21 12 3=100
June, 1992 21 42 22 14 1=100
c. It's complicated to register to vote
where I live 5 8 26 57 4=100
June, 1992 4 8 29 56 3=100
d. It's difficult for me to get out to
the polls to vote 10 16 28 44 2=100
June, 1992 8 17 29 44 2=100
e. I sometimes don't like any of the
candidates 32 40 15 10 3=100
June, 1992 24 41 22 12 1=100
f. I don't want to involve myself with
politics 16 20 28 34 2=100
June, 1992 7 17 28 46 2=100
g. I can make more of a difference by
getting involved in my community than
by voting in elections 19 28 26 23 4=100
Q.44 Some people feel that what this country needs is some really strong leadership that
would try to solve problems directly without worrying how Congress and the Supreme Court
might feel. Others think that such strong leadership might be dangerous. What do you think?
June Newsweek
1992 1976
63 Need Strong leadership 63 49
27 Strong leadership might be dangerous 27 44
10 Don't know/Refused 10 7
100 100 100
Q.45 Suppose there was a place on the ballot where you could refuse to vote for any of
the candidates a vote of no confidence in all of the candidates running for office?
How likely is it that you would vote that way? (READ LIST)
June Newsweek
1992 1976
19 Very likely 24 21
27 Possibly likely 30 32
51 Not at all likely 43 41
3 (DO NOT READ) Don't know/Refused 3 6
100 100 100
Q.46 In your opinion, does it really make much difference who is elected President?
June Newsweek
1992 1976
69 Yes 80 80
30 No 18 18
1 Don't know/Refused 2 2
100 100 100
ASK FORM 1 [N=1,089]:
Q.47 Looking ahead to the next presidential election, would you like to see a president
who offers policies and programs similar to those of the Clinton administration, OR
would you like to see a president who offers different policies and programs?
Feb Aug June Feb
2000 1999 1999 1999
Policies and programs similar
40 to Clinton Administration 41 43 43 54
52 Different policies and programs 51 50 50 41
8 Don't know/Refused 8 7 7 5
100 100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 2 [N=1,085]:
Q.48 Which is more important for the next president to do -- (READ; ROTATE ORDER)?
(IF ANSWERS "BOTH," PROBE ONCE WITH: Well, which would you say is MORE important?
IF STILL SAYS "BOTH," CODE AS "BOTH.")
41 Continue policies that are now leading to improved conditions around the country
47 Make major changes in national policy to solve problems that are now not getting better
7 Both (VOLUNTEERED AFTER PROBE)
5 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1,089]:
Q.49 I am going to read some things news organizations can do to cover a presidential
election campaign. For each, tell me if it is something you would like to see MORE of,
or like to see LESS of in coverage of the 2000 campaign. Thinking of...(INSERT ITEM;
ROTATE ITEMS) would you like to see more coverage of this or less coverage of this than
in previous presidential elections?
More Less Same
Coverage Coverage Amount DK/Ref
a. The candidates debating each other 64 28 5 3=100
October, 1991 58 28 9 5=100
c. The candidates discussing their personal
backgrounds and experiences 42 50 4 4=100
October, 1991 46 41 8 5=100
d. The candidates discussing their positions
on issues 85 9 3 3=100
October, 1991 80 11 5 4=100
f. Which candidate is leading in the
latest polls 44 42 6 8=100
g. The strategies the candidates are using 41 47 5 7=100
h. The sources of candidates' campaign money 49 44 2 5=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1,085]:
Q.50 Thinking about the presidential candidates and what you will learn about them over
the next year, please rate the importance of each of the following things. How important
is it for YOU to learn about (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE ITEMS) very important, somewhat
important, not too important, or not at all important?
Very Somewhat Not too Not at all (VOL.)
Important Important Important Important DK/Ref
a. How well a candidate connects
with average people 67 24 4 3 2=100
October, 1999 71 23 5 1 *=100
d. A candidate's personal finances 14 23 26 36 1=100
October, 1999 13 25 31 30 1=100
e. A candidate's voting record or policy
positions in public offices he or she
previously held 60 27 6 5 2=100
October, 1999 58 31 7 3 1=100
f. A candidate's spouse 21 27 23 28 1=100
g. A candidate's reputation for honesty 84 11 2 2 1=100
October, 1999 82 13 3 1 1=100
h. A candidate's major campaign contributors 42 29 13 13 3=100
October, 1999 37 38 14 10 1=100
i. A candidate's experiences growing up 25 33 22 18 2=100
October, 1999 20 37 29 14 *=100
Q.51 Here are some things that have been in the news recently. Not everyone will have
heard about them. Do you happen to know which candidate has proposed allowing workers
to invest some of their Social Security contributions in stocks and bonds? (IF YES,
ASK: Which candidate is that?)
29 Bush (correct answer)
9 Gore
1 Other
61 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.52 Do you happen to know which candidate's wife has spoken out about the need to help
Americans with mental illnesses? (IF YES, ASK: Which candidate's wife is that?)
6 Bush/Bush's wife/Laura Bush
40 Gore/Gore's wife/Tipper Gore (correct answer)
2 Other
52 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.53 Do you happen to know which candidate has proposed a missile defense system and to reduce
the number of U.S. nuclear warheads, even if Russia refuses to do the same? (IF YES, ASK:
Which candidate is that?)
18 Bush (correct answer)
20 Gore
2 Other
60 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.54 Do you happen to know which candidate has proposed using surplus Medicare funds to
protect the program's future? (IF YES, ASK: Which candidate is that?)
14 Bush
27 Gore (correct answer)
1 Other
58 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.55 In the last year or so, have you done any volunteer work for any church, charity,
or community group?
June 1997
52 Yes 58
47 No 42
1 Don't know/Refused *
100 100
IF RESPONDENT SAID '1' YES IN Q.55, ASK [N=1,210]:
Q.56 Was that a one-time thing, or do you do volunteer work on an occasional basis, or on a
regular basis? (IF RESPONDENT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, ASK: The volunteer work
you did in the last year or so for any church, charity, or community group.)
June 1997
6 One-time thing 10
43 Occasional basis 44
51 Regular basis 46
* Don't know/Refused *
100 100
Q.57 In general, would you describe your political views as... (READ)
Early
Oct Sept May June June April July
1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1996 1994
7 Very conservative 7 8 7 7 7 7 7
29 Conservative 26 30 30 30 32 31 32
39 Moderate 41 38 37 40 38 39 39
15 Liberal, OR 16 15 15 14 14 14 15
5 Very liberal? 6 6 6 5 6 5 4
5 DK/Refused(DON'T READ) 4 3 5 4 3 4 3
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.58 Some people say they are basically content with the federal government, others say
they are frustrated, and others say they are angry. Which of these best describes how
you feel?
Feb Oct
2000 1997
28 Basically content 33 29
53 Frustrated 54 56
13 Angry 10 12
6 Don't know/Refused (VOL) 3 3
100 100 100
Q.59 Now I am going to read you a series of statements that will help us understand how
you feel about a number of things. For each statement, please tell me whether you
completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it or completely
disagree with it. [DO NOT ROTATE ITEMS]
Completely Mostly Mostly Completely
Agree Agree Disagree Disagree DK/Ref
c. I feel it's my duty as a
citizen to always vote 63 26 6 4 1=100
September, 1999 64 27 5 3 1=100
November, 1997 63 26 7 4 *=100
July, 1994 66 27 4 3 *=100
May, 1993 66 28 4 1 1=100
June, 1992 69 22 6 2 1=100
Nov, 1991 72 21 4 2 1=100
May, 1990 50 35 9 4 2=100
Feb, 1989 64 26 6 2 2=100
May, 1988 56 32 7 2 3=100
May, 1987 46 39 9 3 3=100
e. I'm generally bored by what
goes on in Washington 19 34 29 15 3=100
September, 1999 19 39 28 12 2=100
November, 1997 14 37 34 14 1=100
July, 1994 17 34 33 15 1=100
June, 1992 20 35 31 13 1=100
Nov, 1991 16 36 30 16 2=100
May, 1990 12 36 38 12 2=100
Feb, 1989 10 37 37 13 3=100
May, 1988 11 37 38 12 2=100
May, 1987 8 34 41 13 4=100
f. I'm pretty interested in following
local politics 24 42 21 11 2=100
September, 1999 18 48 26 6 2=100
November, 1997 20 48 25 6 1=100
July, 1994 24 52 18 5 1=100
June, 1992 26 47 21 5 1=100
Nov, 1991 29 48 16 5 2=100
May, 1990 17 53 23 6 1=100
February, 1989 24 49 21 5 1=100
May, 1988 21 51 22 5 1=100
May, 1987 16 54 22 4 4=100
g. Most issues discussed in Washington
don't affect me personally 11 19 36 31 3=100
September, 1999 8 30 42 18 2=100
November, 1997 8 27 45 19 1=100
July, 1994 5 25 42 27 1=100
June, 1992 7 26 43 22 2=100
Nov, 1991 8 25 41 23 3=100
May, 1990 7 28 46 16 3=100
Feb, 1989 7 26 44 20 3=100
May, 1988 7 29 45 17 2=100
May, 1987 5 26 50 15 4=100
h. I feel guilty when I don't get
a chance to vote 38 23 15 18 6=100
September, 1999 36 32 20 9 3=100
November, 1997 36 32 17 12 3=100
July, 1994 38 32 18 9 3=100
June, 1992 39 30 16 9 6=100
Nov, 1991 46 28 14 8 4=100
May, 1990 30 37 22 8 3=100
Feb, 1989 38 34 17 7 4=100
May, 1988 32 37 18 8 5=100
May, 1987 25 41 22 6 6=100
i. Sometimes I vote for a candidate
without really knowing enough
about him or her 18 29 22 27 4=100
September, 1999 12 42 26 17 3=100
November, 1997 14 38 26 20 2=100
July, 1994 14 38 27 20 1=100
June, 1992 14 38 25 20 3=100
Nov, 1991 18 36 22 22 2=100
May, 1990 12 41 27 15 5=100
Feb, 1989 15 41 24 17 3=100
May, 1988 12 44 24 15 15=100
May, 1987 9 44 28 13 6=100
Q.60 There are many ways for people to vote, and some prefer one way over another. If
you had the choice of voting in a booth at a polling place on election day, OR over the
Internet, OR through the mail during the weeks leading up to election day, which would
you prefer?
March Feb
2000 1996
50 Voting in booth 52 54
24 Voting over Internet 26 n/a
23 Voting by mail 20 43
1 None (VOL) 1 2
2 Don't know/Refused 1 1
100 100 100
Q.61 Some people say we should have a third major political party in this country in addition
to the Democrats and Republicans. Do you agree or disagree?
Early ABC/Washington Post
Aug Sept Aug July Oct April July Jan Sept
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1995 1994 1984 1982
52 Agree 54 46 47 58 59 57 53 41 44
42 Disagree 40 47 46 37 37 38 43 48 44
6 DK/Ref 6 7 7 5 4 5 4 11 12
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.62 Do you use a computer at your workplace, at school, at home, or anywhere else on at
least an occasional basis?
Yes No DK/Ref
June, 2000 68 31 1=100
April, 2000 68 32 *=100
March, 2000 72 28 0=100
February, 2000 67 33 *=100
January, 2000 68 32 *=100
December, 1999 67 33 *=100
October, 1999 67 33 *=100
Late September, 1999 68 32 *=100
September, 1999 70 30 *=100
July, 1999 68 32 *=100
June, 1999 64 35 1=100
May, 1999 66 33 1=100
April, 1999 71 29 *=100
March, 1999 68 32 *=100
February, 1999 68 32 *=100
January, 1999 69 31 *=100
Early December, 1998 64 36 *=100
Early September, 1998 64 36 *=100
Late August, 1998 66 34 0=100
Early August, 1998 66 34 *=100
April, 1998 61 39 *=100
January, 1998 65 35 *=100
November, 1997 66 34 *=100
June, 1997 60 40 0=100
Early September, 1996 56 44 *=100
July, 1996 56 44 *=100
April, 1996 58 42 *=100
March, 1996 61 39 *=100
February, 1996 60 40 0=100
January, 1996 59 41 0=100
January, 1996 59 41 0=100
IF USE A COMPUTER, ASK:
Q.63 Do you ever go online to access the Internet or World Wide Web, or to send and receive email?
BASED ON TOTAL RESPONDENTS: Doesn't
Goes Online Go Online Don't know
June, 2000 56 44 *=100
April, 2000 54 46 *=100
March, 2000 61 39 0=100
February, 2000 52 48 0=100
January, 2000 52 48 *=100
December, 1999 53 47 0=100
October, 1999 50 50 0=100
Late September, 1999 52 48 *=100
September, 1999 53 47 0=100
August, 1999 52 48 0=100
July, 1999 49 51 0=100
June, 1999 50 50 *=100
May, 1999 48 52 0=100
April, 1999 51 49 *=100
March, 1999 49 51 *=100
February, 1999 49 51 *=100
January, 1999 47 53 *=100
Early December, 1998 42 58 0=100
November, 1998 37 63 *=100
Early September, 1998 42 58 *=100
Late August, 1998 43 57 *=100
Early August, 1998 43 57 *=100
April, 1998 36 64 0=100
January, 1998 37 63 0=100
November, 1997 36 63 1=100
July, 1996 23 77 0=100
April, 1996 21 79 *=100
March, 1996 22 78 0=100
February, 1996 21 79 *=100
January, 1996 21 79 0=100
June, 1995* 14 86 *=100
[*NOTE: The 1995 figure combines responses from two separate questions:
(1) Do you or anyone in your household ever use a modem to connect to any
computer bulletin boards, information services such as CompuServe or Prodigy,
or other computers at other locations? (IF YES, PROBE: Is that you, someone
else or both?)
(2) Do you, yourself, ever use a computer at (work) (school) (work or
school) to connect with computer bulletin boards, information services such
as America Online or Prodigy, or other computers over the Internet?]
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