Last updated on: 4/13/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

Opinion Polls/Surveys

Apr. 3, 2001 – July 22, 2002

The following polls are presented to offer readers an understanding of American opinions on felon voting. We were unable to find additional polls on this issue. If you know of any others, please let us know.
1. Harris Interactive Poll, July 18-22, 2002 2. Schroth and Associates Poll, Apr. 3-8, 2001

 

1. Harris Interactive Poll, July 18-22, 2002

  • N = various, MoE+/- = not stated
  • Conducted July 18-22, 2002
  • Analyzed and reported on by Jeff Manza, PhD, et. al. in “Public Attitudes Towards Felon Disenfranchisement in the US,” Public Opinion Quarterly, Summer 2004
Section I

 
A. Question – Probation 1: “There has been some discussion recently about the right to vote in this country. Some feel that people convicted of a crime who are sentenced to probation and are living in the community should have the right to vote. Others feel that they should not have the right to vote. What about you? Do you think people on probation should have the right to vote? or haven’t you thought much about this?”

 Yes = 68%
B. Question – Probation 2: “There has been some discussion recently about the right to vote in this country. Some feel that people convicted of a crime who have been sentenced to probation, but not prison , and are living in the community should have the right to vote. Others feel that they should not have the right to vote. What about you? Do you think people on probation should have the right to vote?” [The term “but not prison” was bolded by ProCon.org to illustrate the difference between the Probation 1 and Probation 2 questions.]

 Yes = 60%
C. Question – Parolee: “There has been some discussion recently about the right to vote in this country. Some feel that people convicted of a crime who are sentenced to probation, but not prison, and are living in the community should have the right to vote. Others feel that they should not have the right to vote. What about you? Do you think people on parole should have the right to vote?”

 Yes = 60%
D. Question – Prisoner: “There has been some discussion recently about the right to vote in this country. Some feel that people convicted of a crime who are in prison, and are living in the community should have the right to vote. Others feel that they should not have the right to vote. What about you? Do you think people in prison should have the right to vote?” Yes = 31%
 

Section II

 
A. Question – Baseline Ex-Felon: “Now how about people convicted of a crime who have served their entire sentence, and are now living in the community. Do you think they should have the right to vote?”

 Yes = 80%
B. Question – White Collar Ex-Felon: “Now how about people convicted of the illegal trading of stocks, who have served their entire sentence, and are now living in the community. Do you think they should have the right to vote?”

 Yes = 63%
C. Question – Violent Crime Ex-Felon: “Now how about people convicted of a violent crime, who have served their entire sentence, and are now living in the community. Do you think they should have the right to vote?”

 Yes = 66%
D. Question – Sex Crime Ex-Felon: “Now how about people convicted of a sex offense, who have served their entire sentence, and are now living in the community. Do you think they should have the right to vote?”

 

 Yes = 52%


Jeff Manza, PhD “Public Attitudes Towards Felon Disenfranchisement in the US,” Public Opinion Quarterly, Summer 2004

2. Schroth and Associates Poll, Apr. 3-8, 2001

A. Percentages who support “restoring the voting rights of felons”:

 

African American community 75%
Democrats 48%
18-34 year old’s 47%
Non-Cuban Hispanics 46%
Those who did not vote in the presidential election last fall 45%
Persons undecided about whether they will vote in the 2002 Florida elections 57%
Republicans 17%


Susan A. MacManus, PhD “Floridians Look Back At Election 2000 and Look Forward to Major Reforms,” Journal of the James Madison Institute, Summer 2004

 

 
 

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