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 In 1999-2000, Portrait of America* (POA) conducted a
series of statewide telephone polls that asked voters if the initiative and
referendum (I&R) process was good public policy. POA also conducted a national
survey for the Initiative & Referendum Institute (IRI) in the spring of 2001
that asked voters nationally how they felt about the initiative and referendum
process. In every case, POA found a majority of voters favor I&R. In fact, only
four states had support under 55%.
In every state, I&R supporters outnumbered opponents by at least 30% and in 17
states supporters outnumbered opponents by more than 50%. In five states the
spread was 60% or more.
In the 24 states where the I&R process already exists, support is significantly
higher than in the 26 states that do not have a statewide initiative process. On
average, support was 8% higher in states that have I&R. Additionally, POA looked
at the opposition to the initiative process and found it was five points lower
among people who lived in initiative states than in non-initiative states.
One of the most interesting findings was the correlation between the level of
support for I&R and the number of initiatives that appeared on the ballot.
States that used the process more frequently in the four years before the survey
have higher levels of support for I&R than states where the process was used
less frequently. This finding would seem to be at odds with pundits who say
voters are overwhelmed by a large number of issues on the ballot and hence
dislike the initiative process.
Among states where voters used the initiative process 15 to 29 times, supporters
outnumbered opponents by an average of 61%. In states where the process was used
three to nine times, the average difference fell to 54% and where two or fewer
initiatives were on the ballot the average difference was only 47%.
Where 15 to 29 issues made the ballot support averaged 72%. Where three to nine
issues made the ballot support averaged 68%. Where less than two issues made the
ballot support averaged only 61%.
The trend is also seen in opposition to I&R. In states with the most
citizen-sponsored measures on the ballot (15-29) opposition was only 12%. The
group in the middle (3-9 measures) averaged 14% opposition and the group at the
bottom (0-2 measures) averaged 16% opposition.
The polling data suggests that greater use of I&R fosters support for the
process. POA looked at the results from several perspectives and considered the
mean averages cited above as well as the median averages. POA also evaluated the
minimum and maximum values in each category. By every measure, support is
significantly higher among I&R states. The 1999-2001 surveys conclusively
demonstrate that the experience of voting on initiatives and referendum actually
increases support for the process.
* Portrait of
America (POA) is a non-profit polling firm. POA President Alan Lindsay has been
featured in the national media and is well known for seeking public opinion on
many timely and controversial topics of national interest. For more information
contact Alan at alan@portraitofamerica.com or at (919) 280-4342.
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