March 10, 2011 - Death Penalty Support At New High In Connecticut, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters High On Medical Marijuana, Sunday Liquor Sales Word format Connecticut voters support the death penalty 67 - 28 percent, inching up to a new high, and say 48 - 43 percent that the penalty for first degree murder should be the death penalty rather than life in prison with no chance of parole, also a new high, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support for the death penalty, 65 - 23 percent in an October 13, 2010, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, has inched up in every survey since the July 23, 2007, Cheshire murders. Support for the death penalty was 59 - 31 percent January 12, 2005, before the murders. In that same 2005 Quinnipiac University poll, Connecticut voters preferred life in prison without parole over the death penalty 49 - 37 percent. In today's survey, death penalty support is 55 - 40 percent among Democrats, 80 - 18 percent among Republicans and 68 - 26 percent among independent voters. Men support the death penalty 73 - 24 percent, while women support it 62 - 32 percent. Offered three choices, 10 percent favor the death penalty for all people convicted of murder; 16 percent say no one should be executed and 73 percent say the death penalty depends on the circumstances of each case. "Historically, voters favor the death penalty about 2-1 when they are asked a simple yes- no question. When they are offered the choice, however, between the death penalty and life in prison with no chance of parole, voters have been evenly divided," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "In Connecticut, the Cheshire home invasion murders appear to have changed that. Now voters back the death penalty no matter how we ask the question, but by a smaller margin, when they have the life without parole option," Dr. Schwartz added. Connecticut voters favor the death penalty 74 - 21 percent for Stephen Hayes, who has been convicted in the Cheshire murders, and 72 - 22 percent for Joshua Komisarjevsky if he is found guilty when his case comes to trial. Voters support 79 - 17 percent allowing adults to use marijuana if a doctor prescribes it for medical reasons. Support is over 70 percent among every group in the survey. Connecticut voters also support 65 - 32 percent decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. Support ranges from 53 - 45 percent among Republicans to 70 - 27 percent among Democrats, from 70 - 28 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old to 58 - 38 percent among voters over 65 years old. No group is opposed. Voters also want to buy liquor on Sunday and support 66 - 31 percent allowing liquor stores to open on Sunday. This is the highest level of support ever for this question, up from 56 - 39 percent March 18, 2010. But voters oppose 50 - 43 percent allowing groceries to sell wine or hard liquor. Republicans support the measure 50 - 46 percent while opposition is 48 - 44 percent among Democrats and 54 - 38 percent among independent voters. Men split 47 - 47 percent while women are opposed 52 - 41 percent. "Both Sunday liquor sales and decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana win 2-1 support among Connecticut voters. And there is a near consensus on the medical marijuana law with about 8 in 10 voters supporting it," Dr. Schwartz said. "It is rare to see such a level of support for any issue." From March 1 - 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,693 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio 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. 37. Currently, Connecticut liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday. Do you think Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 66% 68% 65% 67% 72% 61% 75% No 31 30 32 31 26 35 24 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 4 2 AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Yes 79% 73% 65% 48% 42% 68% 74% 77% No 19 24 33 47 53 31 24 20 DK/NA 2 3 2 5 5 1 2 3 TREND: Currently, Connecticut liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday. Do you think Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday or not? Mar 10 Mar 18 Mar 10 2011 2010 2009 Yes 66 56 54 No 31 39 44 DK/NA 3 5 2 38. As you may know Connecticut grocery stores are not allowed to sell wine or hard liquor. Do you think Connecticut grocery stores should be allowed to sell wine and hard liquor or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 43% 50% 44% 38% 47% 41% 45% No 50 46 48 54 47 52 43 WINE NOT LIQUOR(VOL) 5 4 6 6 5 5 9 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Yes 48% 49% 45% 30% 25% 41% 48% 53% No 47 43 50 60 65 53 46 40 WINE NOT LIQUOR(VOL) 4 6 4 8 8 5 4 5 DK/NA 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 TREND: As you may know Connecticut grocery stores, are not allowed to sell wine or hard liquor. Do you think Connecticut grocery stores should be allowed to sell wine and hard liquor or not? (*No option available for respondents volunteering "Wine not liquor") Mar 10 Mar 18 Mar 10 2011 2010* 2009* Yes 43 45 39 No 50 52 58 WINE NOT LIQUOR(VOL) 5 - - DK/NA 2 3 3 39. There is a proposal in the state legislature that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Good idea 65% 53% 70% 66% 69% 61% 70% Bad idea 32 45 27 32 29 35 29 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 4 1 AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Good idea 70% 66% 67% 58% 55% 69% 67% 68% Bad idea 28 32 31 38 40 28 31 30 DK/NA 2 2 2 4 5 2 2 2 TREND: There is a proposal in the state legislature that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Mar 10 Mar 10 2011 2009 Good idea 65 58 Bad idea 32 37 DK/NA 3 5 40. There is a proposal in the state legislature that would allow adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Good idea 79% 72% 87% 77% 79% 79% 82% Bad idea 17 24 11 19 17 17 15 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Good idea 77% 81% 80% 80% 71% 87% 84% 76% Bad idea 18 15 17 18 22 11 14 21 DK/NA 5 3 3 2 7 2 2 3 41. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favor 67% 80% 55% 68% 73% 62% Oppose 28 18 40 26 24 32 DK/NA 5 3 5 5 3 6 AGE..................... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor 60% 73% 67% 66% Oppose 36 23 28 29 DK/NA 4 4 4 5 TREND: Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? FAVOR........ High Low Mar 10 Oct 13 Nov 7 Jan 12 Mar 18 Mar 10 Jan 12 2011 2010 2007 2005 2003 2011 2005 Favor 67 65 63 59 60 67 59 Oppose 28 23 27 31 34 28 31 DK/NA 5 12 10 10 6 5 10 42. Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder, the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Death penalty 48% 57% 37% 51% 56% 42% Life/No parole 43 36 57 39 36 49 DK/NA 9 7 6 10 8 9 AGE..................... DEATH PEN Q41 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor Oppose Death penalty 34% 57% 51% 47% 70% 3% Life/No parole 55 35 41 45 20 95 DK/NA 11 7 8 7 9 2 TREND: Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole? (*Apr,2001 & Jun,2000 question wording - What do you think should be the penalty for murder ...) Mar 10 Oct 13 Nov 7 Jan 12 Mar 18 Apr 23 Jun 22 2011 2010 2007 2005 2003 2001* 2000* Death Penalty 48 46 47 37 47 42 41 Life/No Parole 43 41 44 49 46 43 42 DK/NA 9 14 9 14 7 15 17 43. Which statement comes closest to your point of view? (A) All persons convicted of murder should get the death penalty. (B) No one convicted of murder should get the death penalty. (C) Whether or not someone convicted of murder gets the death penalty should depend on the circumstances of the case. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom (A) All 10% 9% 11% 9% 9% 10% (B) No one 16 11 26 12 12 19 (C) Depends 73 80 61 77 78 69 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 - 2 AGE..................... DEATH PEN Q41 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor Oppose (A) All 7% 11% 9% 12% 14% 1% (B) No one 17 14 16 18 2 52 (C) Depends 75 75 75 67 84 45 DK/NA 1 - 1 3 - 2 TREND: Which statement comes closest to your point of view? (A) All persons convicted of murder should get the death penalty. (B) No one convicted of murder should get the death penalty. (C) Whether or not someone convicted of murder gets the death penalty should depend on the circumstances of the case. Mar 10 Oct 13 Jan 12 Apr 23 Jun 22 2011 2010 2005 2001 2000 (A) All 10 7 6 8 9 (B) No one 16 14 20 15 16 (C) Depends 73 78 73 76 73 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 2 44. Have you heard or read anything about the Cheshire home invasion murders where a mother and her two daughters were killed in July 2007? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 97% 97% 97% 98% 97% 97% No 3 3 3 2 3 3 DK/NA - - - - - - AGE..................... DEATH PEN Q41 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor Oppose Yes 93% 98% 99% 99% 97% 97% No 7 2 1 1 3 3 DK/NA - - - - - - TREND: Have you heard or read anything about the Cheshire home invasion murders where a mother and her two daughters were killed in July 2007? Mar 10 Oct 13 Nov 07 2011 2010 2007 Yes 97 98 98 No 3 2 2 DK/NA - 1 1 45. Steven Hayes was found guilty for his part in these murders. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for Steven Hayes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favor 74% 82% 64% 77% 79% 70% Oppose 21 15 30 19 17 25 DK/NA 5 4 6 4 4 5 AGE..................... DEATH PEN Q41 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor Oppose Favor 67% 80% 76% 73% 94% 31% Oppose 25 17 21 23 3 65 DK/NA 7 3 3 5 3 5 TREND: Steven Hayes was found guilty for his part in these murders. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for Steven Hayes? (*"found guilty of these murders") Mar 10 Oct 13 2011 2010* Favor 74 76 Oppose 21 18 DK/NA 5 6 46. The other suspect, Joshua Komisarjevsky, has yet to be tried. If he is found guilty, do you favor or oppose the death penalty for Joshua Komisarjevsky? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favor 72% 80% 61% 76% 77% 68% Oppose 22 14 32 19 18 25 DK/NA 6 5 7 6 6 6 AGE..................... DEATH PEN Q41 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favor Oppose Favor 63% 79% 74% 71% 92% 28% Oppose 28 16 22 23 3 66 DK/NA 9 5 4 6 4 5
