RALEIGH – A new Civitas Poll shows that North Carolina voters of both parties clearly support Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in our state.
The live-caller poll asked 500 Democrats and 500 Republicans separately about their choices in the March 15 primary and other issues. Results showed that Democrat and Republican voters have nearly identical support for efforts to provide ESAs to North Carolina students.
That was in contrast to their stark differences on other issues. For example:
- 89 percent of Republicans thought the nation is on the wrong track; only 49 percent of Democrats thought the same
- Nine percent of Republicans thought the recession has ended; 32 percent of Democrats thought it has
- Only 4 percent of Republicans listed income inequality as the most important issue; 33 percent of Democrats listed it as No. 1
- Seventeen percent of Republicans approve of expanding Medicaid; 59 percent of Democrats want to expand the program.
“That Republicans and Democrats agree on anything is a major accomplishment. That they agree on strong support for Education Savings Accounts is something on which North Carolinians should take note,” said Dr. Robert Luebke, senior policy analyst at Civitas. “The results show us that when our opponents claim that school choice and ESAs are a partisan issue, they are wrong. More importantly, the results also confirm that all parents – no matter the political affiliation – want to be able to control how and where their children are educated. ESAs are the best vehicles we know for empowering parents to do just that.”
Our poll of 500 likely Democratic North Carolina primary voters has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.38 percent. The survey was taken March 3, 5-7, 2016. Our poll of 500 likely Republican North Carolina primary voters has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.38 percent. The survey was taken March 5-7, 2016.
Actual text of the relevant questions are as follows:
Asked of GOP voters:
A new program to help families and students is being proposed in many states. Education Savings
accounts – or ESAs as they are commonly known – allow state funds to be used by parents to create a personal account to pay for K through 12 education expenses including: tuition, tutoring, testing, fees and books. Would you say you support or oppose an Education Savings Account program?
54% Total Support
30% Total Oppose
33% Strongly Support
21% Somewhat Support
11% Somewhat Oppose
19% Strongly Oppose
16% Don’t Know/ Need More Information
1% Refused
Asked of Democrat voters:
A new program to help families and students is being proposed in many states. Education Savings Accounts – or ESAs as they are commonly known – allow state funds to be used by parents to create a personal account to pay for K through 12 education expenses including; tuition, tutoring, testing, fees and books. Would you say you support or oppose an Education Savings Account program?
55% Total Support
28% Total Oppose
34% Strongly Support
21% Somewhat Support
11% Somewhat Oppose
17% Strongly Oppose
16% Don’t Know/ Need More Information
— Refused
Crosstabs can be viewed here and here. To arrange an interview with Dr. Robert Luebke, email Demi Dowdy at demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org or call 919.747.8059.
Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization committed to creating a North Carolina whose citizens enjoy liberty and prosperity derived from limited government, personal responsibility and civic engagement. Civitas conducts the only regular live-caller polling of North Carolina voters.
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