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Contact Dr. Bruce Merrill (970) 927-0922 Can be used after 7 p.m., Thursday, July 25, 2002 ARIZONA VOTERS PREFER GOVERNOR'S INDIAN GAMING PLAN; SUPPORT MARIJUANA PROPOSITION ARIZONANS AGREE WITH NON-PROSECUTION OF FIRE STARTER; BLAME ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR FOREST FIRES A new poll by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University found that the Indian gaming proposition sponsored by a majority of the state's tribes and supported by Governor Hull has far greater support among Arizona voters than two competing propositions that are also likely to be on the ballot this November. The poll also found clear support for a proposition that would lessen the punishment for possession of small amounts of marijuana and legalize the drug for medicinal use. Finally, Arizonans agree with the decision not to prosecute the Arizona woman who admitted starting the Chediski fire, and a majority feel that environmentalists are largely to blame for the fires because of their perceived opposition to effective forest management. The poll of 411 registered voters in Arizona, conducted between July 18-21, 2002, found that two-thirds of Arizonans (65%) would vote in favor of Proposition 202, the plan preferred by the Governor and a majority of the state's tribes. Nineteen percent (19%) would vote against it, and 16% are still undecided. A small plurality of voters (45%) also support Proposition 200, sponsored by the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Almost as many (39%), however, oppose it, and another 16% are undecided. Finally, the proposition sponsored by the state's race track industry (Prop. 201), is least popular with voters. Fifty-three percent (53%) oppose it, while 32% support this plan, and 15% are undecided. Whereas the proposition advocated by the race tracks is clearly opposed by all groups of voters, support for Propositions 200 and 202 is not uniform among all voters. Democrats, independents and "others," and self-identified liberals are considerably more supportive of both propositions than are Republicans and conservatives.* Notably, the two least popular propositions found greater support among non-white voters than among white voters (Prop. 200: non-whites 72%, whites 50%; Prop. 201: non-whites 49%, whites 36%). All groups of voters, however, prefer Proposition 202 over the other two. The poll also found that 57% of the state's voters would cast their vote in favor of Proposition 203, which would lower the punishment for possession of small amounts of marijuana, increase the sentences for violent crimes committed while on drugs, and create a system authorizing medicinal use of marijuana for certain medical conditions. Thirty-one percent (31%) would vote against the proposition, and 13% have not yet decided. Again, Democrats (70% in favor), "others" (76%), liberals (86%) and those between conservative and liberal (73%) are more supportive than Republicans (57%) and conservatives (47%). Also, younger voters are more likely than older voters to vote for this proposition (83% support among voters under 30, 56% support of voters older than 60). Finally, KAET and the Cronkite School found that most Arizona voters (54%) agree with the decision not to criminally prosecute the Arizona woman whose attempt to attract a helicopter with a signal fire ignited the Chediski fire, which merged with the Rodeo fire to become the largest wildfire in state history and the largest in the nation this fire season. A minority of 34% think the woman should be criminally prosecuted, and 11% had not made up their mind. No significant differences were found among subgroups of voters. Another wildfire question, however, generated strongly partisan responses. Overall, 61% of those interviewed agree with the charges made by some Arizona politicians that environmentalists are largely to blame for the recent fires, because their lawsuits have tied the hands of forest management (28% disagreed, and 12% had no opinion). This, however, conceals strong differences based on party registration and ideology. Republicans (81% agreed) and conservatives (82%) are far more likely than Democrats (57%) and liberals (38%) to agree with the charges made against environmentalists. This poll of 411 registered voters in Arizona voters has a sampling error of 4.8%. Forty-five percent (45%) of those interviewed are registered Republicans, 38% Democrats, and 17% "others." Fifty-five percent (55%) live in Maricopa County, 16% in Pima County, and 29% in other counties. Fifty-three percent (53%) are female, 47% male. POLL QUESTIONS Q1: An Arizona woman has admitted that she started a fire to attract a helicopter while she was lost in the forest. The fire got out of control and developed into the Chediski fire, which burned thousands of acres in Northern Arizona. Some people feel she should be criminally prosecuted for setting the signal fire, while others feel she should not be prosecuted, because she was trying to save herself. Do you feel she should or should not be criminally prosecuted?
Q2: Do you agree or disagree with the charges some Arizona politicians are making that environmentalists are largely to blame for the recent forest fires, because they have brought lawsuits which prevent the Forest Service from thinning and properly managing the forests?
Q3: Likely to be on this November's ballot, Proposition 203 would, among other things, change the punishment for possession of small amounts of marijuana from possible jail time to civil fines, increase the maximum sentences for violent crimes commited while on drugs, and create a medical marijuana registry card system authorizing medicinal use of marijuana for certain medical conditions. Will you likely vote in favor of or against this proposition?
Q9: Now, I would like to ask you how you might vote on a few propositions relating to Indian gaming, which are likely to be on this year's ballot: (QUESTIONS ASKED IN ALTERNATING ORDER) · 9a. Proposition 200, which is sponsored by the Colorado River Indian Tribes, would increase the number of gaming machines in the state, expand the types of gaming permitted, and share 3% of net revenues with the State. Will you likely vote for or against this proposition? · 9b. Proposition 201, which is sponsored by the race track industry, would allow off-reservation gaming machines and would share 40% of off-reservation gross revenue and 8% of on-reservation gross revenue with the state. Will you likely vote for or against this proposition? · 9c. Proposition 202, which is sponsored by a majority of the Indian tribes in Arizona, would share gaming revenues among all tribes, including those who do not host gaming facilities, and would share between 1 and 8% of net revenues with the state, depending on the actual size of the revenue. Will you likely vote for or against this proposition?
The KAET/Cronkite School poll uses "honest rounding" of percentages. Due to rounding error, some percentages may not total to 100%. KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University |
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