Arizonans Support Mandating the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence
Voters are Split on Expanding Vouchers
PHOENIX (March 25th, 2021)- As the Arizona Legislature finds itself as closely divided as it’s been in a generation, lawmakers are duking it out over several key topics that reach everything from Arizona’s schools to punishments for rioters to a governor’s emergency powers.
“In two chambers where Republicans hold the barest possible majorities and any single Republican Senator or House member can torpedo a bill by siding with the Democrats, public support of a given policy could be a powerful tool,” says OH Predictive Insights Chief of Research Mike Noble.
Of the potential policy issues that were tested, requiring children from kindergarten through the fourth grade to recite the pledge of allegiance in the classroom is the most popular. At the same time, the electorate is much less sure about whether the legislature should be able to limit governors’ emergency declarations.
This data was sourced from OHPI’s Arizona Public Opinion Pulse (AZPOP). The AZPOP, conducted from March 8-12, surveyed 690 registered voters in Arizona and had a margin of error of 3.7%.
A bill that would require kindergarteners through fourth graders to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence for students from fifth grade to high school seniors (HB2060) has made it into the House. While the idea of weaving these mandates into state law proved to be troublesome to some voters, there is stronger support for requiring the Pledge of Allegiance than there is for a Moment of Silence.
Requiring the Pledge of Allegiance has the overall approval of voters (60% support/15% oppose) with a near-unanimous approval from Republicans. Democrats are much more divided in their support as well as Independents for this proposal. Popularity for the Pledge mandate cuts across age as well – voters over 55 years old are more supportive of the policy than younger voters of their same party.
When it comes to the Moment of Silence, 45% back the idea, and 16% oppose it. With less partisan division, 55% of Republicans, 42% of Democrats, and 36% of Independents side with the issue. Women, in particular, were more supportive (49%) while men were less so (40%).
Staying in the classroom but moving to the topic of school vouchers, Arizona voters rejected the expansion of school vouchers when it last appeared on the ballot two years ago. Even still, the school voucher expansion has once again become a topic of debate in the Grand Canyon State. This round comes with a set of bills (SB1452, SB1513, and HB2503) that would vastly expand school vouchers to nearly all students, bringing significant education funding changes.
Arizonans are closely split in their approval for this set of bills (38% support, 30% oppose). Older voters, however, had higher opposition than younger voters. Younger voters of all parties supported the measure in more significant numbers than their more senior party members.
Another bill that advanced to the House would create a new crime directed at rioters called “violent or disorderly assembly,” set as a class 6 felony (HB2309). In light of the multitude of protests that have taken place worldwide in the last year, most Arizona voters back this policy. Conservative-leaning demographics (Republican, older, white, rural-residing) hold the strongest support for this new crime and its harsher penalties. There is, however, disparity among Democrats on the issue: 66% of Moderate/Conservative Democrats support this policy while only 37% of Liberal Democrats give their approval.
Last but not least is Governor Ducey. The Arizona Senate passed a measure that would limit the Governor’s powers in states of emergency by requiring the legislature’s involvement (S.C.R. 1003). Support for this policy depends mainly on how concerned a voter is about the Coronavirus pandemic. Approval is highest among those least concerned about COVID-19, while those more concerned about COVID-19 are not as eager to back the policy.
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Methodology: This poll was conducted as an online opt-in panel survey. The survey was completed by OH Predictive Insights from March 8th to March 12th, 2021, from an Arizona Statewide Registered Voter sample. The sample demographics were weighted to accurately reflect gender, region, age, party affiliation, ethnicity, and education. The sample size was 690 registered voters, with an MoE of ± 3.7%. Numbers may not equal 100% due to rounding.
Media Contacts:
Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights, m.noble@ohpredictive.com, (480) 313-1837
Haylye Plaster, OH Predictive Insights, h.plaster@ohpredictive.com, (602) 687-3034
About OH Predictive Insights: As a nonpartisan market research, predictive analytics, and public opinion polling firm, Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insights provides accurate polling, focus groups, data analytics, and advanced targeted marketing to political and non-political clients alike. With leading professionals in the advertising, communication, polling, and political arenas, OH Predictive Insights serves political and non-political clients looking to improve their footing with key stakeholders and consumers. For more information, please call 480-313-1837 or submit a request online at OHPredictive.com.