KAET-ASU Poll

A new statewide telephone poll of 442 registered voters conducted by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University between Jan. 20-23, 2005 found that 77 percent of all registered voters support funding all-day kindergarten, 76 percent want to keep term limits for legislators, 72 percent support a statewide ban on smoking in public places and 69 percent want English to be the official language of Arizona.

Two local issues, legalizing suicide and banning gay marriage, found some support among Arizonans. Fifty-three percent of those interviewed support a bill to legalize suicide for those suffering extreme illnesses if the lethal medication is approved by a physician. A constitutional amendment to specify that marriage should be between a man and a woman was also supported by 54 percent of those interviewed. Support for an amendment to ban gay marriage dropped to 33 percent if such an amendment would take away domestic benefits from gay partners. Republicans (74 percent) and self-identified conservatives (85 percent) were more likely to support a ban on gay marriage than Democrats (40 percent), independents (55 percent) or political liberals (30 percent). A majority (59 percent) of voters would prefer to vote on a gay marriage amendment in the 2006 general election; 19 percent favored voting on the amendment in 2005 if a special election is held. Twenty-two percent had no opinion.

The question of whether or not the AIMS test should be abandoned as a requirement
for high school graduation divided voters evenly. Forty-eight percent favored the proposal, 44 percent were opposed and 8 percent were undecided or had no opinion. Democrats (67 percent) are more supportive of getting rid of the AIMS test than Republicans (46 percent) or independents (38 percent). Women (56 percent) were more likely than men (45 percent) to favor the ban.

Two national issues, making abortion illegal in America and privatizing any part of Social Security found little support among Arizonans. Forty percent supported making abortion illegal and 36 percent were in favor of privatizing Social Security.

The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.7 percent. Sixty percent of the interviews were conducted in Maricopa County, 16 percent in Pima County, and 24 percent in the less populated counties. The sample was 41 percent Republican, 35 percent Democrat and 24 percent independent. Fifty-two percent of voters interviewed were female and 48 percent were male.

1. Currently, term limits allow legislators to serve only eight years. Do you feel we should continue to have term limits for legislators or do you think we should do away with term limits?
1. keep term limits 76%
2. do away with term limits 19%
3. d.k./n.o. 5%

2. Currently, students must pass the AIMS test before they can graduate from high school. A legislator wants to pass a bill that would eliminate the AIMS test as a requirement for graduation. Would you support or oppose eliminating the AIMS test requirement?
1. support 48%
2. oppose 44%
3. d.k./n.o. 8%

3. Would you support or oppose an amendment to the Arizona Constitution specifying that marriage would be allowed only between one man and one woman?
1. support 54%
2. oppose 39%
3. d.k./n.o. 7%

4. Would you support or oppose a constitutional ban on gay marriage if it also prohibited domestic partners from receiving public benefits such as health insurance or retirement benefits?
1. support 33%
2. oppose 59%
3. d.k./n.o. 8%

5. If a special statewide election is held in 2005, do you think a vote on a gay marriage amendment should be held as part of the special election or should it be put on the ballot in the next general election in 2006?
1. 2005 19%
2. 2006 59%
3. d.k./n.o. 22%

6. Would you support or oppose the legislature funding full-day kindergarten in Arizona?
1. support 77%
2. oppose 17%
3. d.k./n.o. 6%

7. Would you support or oppose a statewide ban on smoking in public places?
1. support 72%
2. oppose 25%
3. d.k./n.o. 3%

8. Would you support or oppose a bill making English the official language of Arizona? The law would require that all governmental and public business be conducted in English.
1. support 69%
2. oppose 27%
3. d.k./n.o. 4%

9. Would you support or oppose a bill to legalize suicide in extreme cases involving patients likely to die within six months? A doctor's prescription would be required to get the lethal medication.
1. support 53%
2. oppose 37%
3. d.k./n.o. 10%

10. In general, do you support or oppose privatizing at least part of Social Security?
1. support 36%
2. oppose 51%
3. d.k./n.o. 13%

13. Would you support or oppose a law making abortion illegal except when necessary to save the life of a mother?
1. support 40%
2. oppose 55%
3. d.k./n.o. 5%

KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University.