December 12, 2012 - Ohio Voters Reject Change In Judge Selection 5-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want Smarter Spending, Not More For Schools Word format Ohio voters oppose changing the current system of electing state Supreme Court judges by an overwhelming 81 - 15 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, with opposition at or near 80 percent among every political, income, age, race and gender group. Voters support 52 - 38 percent a proposed new tax on companies drilling for oil and natural gas in the state, little changed from 55 - 35 percent support when the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University asked the question in May. If money from such a tax were used to cut income taxes for state residents, support for the levy rises to 62 - 31 percent, similar to May's 60 - 32 percent finding. Republican voters, who oppose the new tax 56 - 33 percent, shift to support it 52 - 40 percent when it is used to offset income taxes. With three new casinos now open around the state, a solid majority of voters, 57 - 33 percent, think those establishments will be good for Ohio, although only 38 percent say it is very or somewhat likely they will visit one of the casinos. "Efforts to end the system of electing state Supreme Court judges have no support with the general public," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Four in five voters oppose the idea with virtually no difference along political or gender lines. Simply put this is an idea that is going nowhere with Ohio voters. Their views should not be surprising since in general voters want to decide things themselves rather than give politicians the power to decide for them." "Ohio voters support the idea of taxing the state's oil and gas producers, especially if the money would go to cutting income taxes for state residents. On these questions, too, there is widespread agreement," Brown added. "Only Republicans don't give at least a plurality support to the idea generally and even they, back the idea if the money raised went to cutting state income taxes." Looking at public school funding, 51 percent of Ohio voters say schools should better manage the funds they already have, while 37 percent say schools need more money. Supporting better management are Republicans 77 - 16 percent, independent voters 53 - 33 percent, men 56 - 32 percent, and women 47 - 41 percent. Democrats want more money 59 - 28 percent, as do black voters 57 - 29 percent. Every other demographic group surveyed gives at least a plurality to better managing existing funds. "The numbers indicate that the folks who say the problem with schools isn't the lack of money but how the money is spent have struck a chord with the public," said Brown. Democratic U.S Sen. Sherrod Brown gets a 52 - 35 percent approval rating, while Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman gets a 42 - 27 percent score. But the State Legislature gets a 39 - 38 percent split evaluation. Ohio voters also are divided on two national issues that have been in the news lately: 45 percent of voters support same-sex marriage while 47 percent are opposed. Among men, 48 percent are opposed with 42 percent in favor; among women, 47 percent support gay marriage while 45 percent are opposed. 47 - 47 percent on legalizing marijuana, with men in favor by a narrow 49 - 46 percent and women opposed by an equally narrow 48 - 45 percent. "Ohioans' views on legalizing the personal use of pot are slightly more conservative than the nation at large," said Brown. "A Quinnipiac University national poll released last week found support for legalizing marijuana at 51 - 44 percent." From December 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,165 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 39% 62% 23% 38% 43% 35% 42% 24% Disapprove 38 18 53 40 41 36 37 46 DK/NA 23 21 24 22 16 29 21 30 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 40% 39% 37% 41% 47% 42% 35% 39% 41% Disapprove 43 37 40 39 38 31 39 45 32 DK/NA 18 24 23 20 15 27 26 16 26 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Dec 12 May 09 Feb 14 Jan 19 Jun 29 Dec 10 Dec 12 2012 2012 2012 2012 2010 2008 2006 Approve 39 33 35 32 33 46 25 Disapprove 38 47 48 49 47 35 55 DK/NA 23 20 18 19 20 19 20 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rob Portman is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 42% 65% 28% 40% 46% 39% 44% 32% Disapprove 27 10 41 26 29 24 25 37 DK/NA 31 25 31 33 26 36 31 31 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 43% 42% 41% 40% 49% 38% 36% 44% 50% Disapprove 33 24 26 30 29 21 28 31 21 DK/NA 24 34 33 30 22 41 37 25 28 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rob Portman is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 42% Feb 2012) APPROVE...... High Low Dec 12 May 10 Feb 14 Jan 19 Oct 25 Dec 11 Mar 24 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2012* 2011 Approve 42 38 42 39 38 42 30 Disapprove 27 23 25 25 26 27 25 DK/NA 31 39 34 36 36 31 45 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 52% 25% 82% 48% 50% 54% 49% 73% Disapprove 35 66 9 36 41 30 40 7 DK/NA 13 9 9 16 9 16 12 20 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 55% 51% 54% 55% 49% 63% 46% 51% 54% Disapprove 38 35 32 33 45 24 41 36 35 DK/NA 8 14 14 12 6 13 13 12 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator? (* High also 52% May 2009, Sep 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 12 May 10 Feb 15 Jan 19 Oct 26 Dec 11 Jul 07 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2012* 2009 Approve 52 46 47 47 50 52 41 Disapprove 35 33 34 34 30 35 29 DK/NA 13 21 19 19 20 13 30 22. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas and oil in Ohio? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 52% 33% 63% 56% 52% 51% 52% 49% Oppose 38 56 28 33 39 37 38 36 DK/NA 10 11 9 10 9 11 9 15 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 59% 49% 50% 57% 53% 50% 54% 52% 49% Oppose 34 40 38 37 43 40 37 39 37 DK/NA 7 11 12 6 3 10 9 9 15 TREND: Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas and oil in Ohio? Dec 12 May 09 2012 2012 Support 52 55 Oppose 38 35 DK/NA 10 10 23. Would you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas and oil in Ohio, if the money raised was used to cut income taxes for state residents? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 62% 52% 65% 66% 62% 63% 62% 68% Oppose 31 40 28 27 32 30 31 27 DK/NA 7 8 7 7 6 8 7 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 57% 64% 64% 64% 58% 63% 66% 61% 58% Oppose 39 28 29 33 37 30 31 31 30 DK/NA 4 8 7 4 6 6 3 7 12 TREND: Would you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas and oil in Ohio, if the money raised was used to cut income taxes for state residents? Dec 12 May 09 2012 2012 Support 62 60 Oppose 31 32 DK/NA 7 8 24. Ohio's first three Las Vegas style casinos are now open. Do you think these casinos will be good or bad for Ohio? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good 57% 45% 63% 60% 59% 55% 55% 68% Bad 33 43 29 31 32 34 35 26 DK/NA 10 11 9 9 9 11 10 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Good 50% 59% 61% 53% 56% 75% 59% 53% 46% Bad 40 31 30 35 34 18 33 35 42 DK/NA 10 10 9 12 9 7 8 11 12 25. Regardless of whether you think these casinos will be good or bad for Ohio, how likely is it that you will go to one of these casinos in the next year or so; very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very likely 22% 21% 25% 20% 20% 23% 19% 40% Smwht likely 16 14 21 14 18 15 15 22 Not too likely 17 18 14 20 20 14 18 10 Not likely at all 44 48 40 45 42 47 47 27 DK/NA - - - - - 1 - 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Very likely 18% 23% 22% 23% 29% 36% 26% 17% 15% Smwht likely 16 17 16 18 15 21 15 16 14 Not too likely 19 16 17 18 18 14 22 18 13 Not likely at all 47 44 46 41 38 28 38 49 57 DK/NA - - - - - - - - 1 TREND: Regardless of whether you think these casinos will be good or bad for Ohio, how likely is it that you will go to one of these casinos in the next year or so; very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Dec 12 May 09 2012 2012 Very likely 22 20 Smwht likely 16 17 Not too likely 17 15 Not likely at all 44 47 DK/NA - - 26. Ohio currently elects its judges on the state supreme court. Some have suggested that be changed so that judges would be appointed by the governor with input from the state bar association and confirmed by the legislature. Which do you prefer: A) Keeping the current system of electing Ohio supreme court judges, or B) Changing to a system in which new judges would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A)Keep current sys 81% 80% 79% 83% 81% 81% 80% 84% B)Judges appointed 15 17 18 11 16 14 16 14 DK/NA 4 3 3 6 3 5 4 2 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A)Keep current sys 76% 82% 81% 83% 76% 82% 83% 80% 78% B)Judges appointed 21 13 14 13 22 11 13 18 15 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 2 7 4 2 6 27. When it comes to public schools in Ohio, which best represents your view: A) In order to do a better job, public schools in Ohio need to receive more money from government B) In order to do a better job, public schools in Ohio need to spend the money they receive from the government differently? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A)Need more money 37% 16% 59% 33% 32% 41% 34% 57% B)Spend differently 51 77 28 53 56 47 55 29 BOTH (VOL) 7 2 7 9 5 8 6 12 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 7 3 5 2 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A)Need more money 39% 36% 42% 34% 28% 43% 37% 38% 31% B)Spend differently 49 52 46 53 60 45 49 53 55 BOTH (VOL) 7 7 7 9 6 8 11 5 3 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 5 4 3 4 10 28. In general, do you support or oppose same-sex marriage? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 45% 24% 64% 42% 42% 47% 43% 55% Oppose 47 70 30 47 48 45 49 36 DK/NA 9 6 6 11 10 7 8 8 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 58% 37% 31% 43% 40% 45% 16% 46% Oppose 37 53 62 46 50 47 78 45 DK/NA 6 9 7 10 10 7 6 9 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 57% 40% 43% 47% 52% 74% 46% 41% 27% Oppose 35 51 48 44 43 22 43 51 63 DK/NA 8 9 9 8 5 4 11 8 9 29. Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal in Ohio, or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 47% 28% 57% 49% 49% 45% 45% 60% No 47 67 36 45 46 48 50 32 DK/NA 6 5 7 6 5 7 6 8 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Yes 43% 45% 33% 37% 48% 41% 30% 43% No 49 50 62 53 46 52 65 51 DK/NA 8 5 6 10 5 7 5 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 45% 47% 51% 47% 45% 65% 55% 45% 25% No 47 47 45 44 49 29 39 49 68 DK/NA 8 5 5 8 6 6 6 6 7 Demographic Summary
