June 28, 2011 - Age, Religious Gap In New York Gay Marriage Approval, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Cuomo Plan To Get Tough On Texters Word format New York State voters support 54 - 40 percent a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, with voters under 35 supporting the measure 70 - 26 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters 35 to 64 years old also support the measure, while voters over 65 oppose it 57 - 37 percent. Support remained consistent before and after passage of the bill. White Catholics split 48 - 48 percent on same-sex marriage. Jews support it 67 - 30 percent, while white Protestants oppose the measure 54 - 40 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Voters who say they have no religion support the measure 78 - 17 percent. Voters split 47 - 46 percent on whether a same-sex marriage bill will pressure religious groups to perform such marriages. There will be pressure, white Protestants say 52 - 39 percent. White Catholics split 50 - 48 percent and Jews say no pressure 55 - 38 percent. Opposition from religious leaders to same-sex marriage does not affect their attitudes on the issue, 70 percent of New York State voters say. Because of this opposition, 17 percent of white Protestants, 21 percent of white Catholics and 17 percent of Jews are less likely to support same-sex marriage. "Throughout the down-to-the-wire drama and the narrow margin in the State Senate, voter support for same-sex marriage has been consistent," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "On gay marriage, many of the people in the pews split with their bishops. "Opponents had worried that churches might be pressured to perform same-sex marriages and a substantial number of voters think that's still a valid problem." New York State voters support 62 - 29 percent rent regulation controlling the amount a landlord can charge a tenant. Support is 73 - 20 percent among Democrats, 48 - 42 percent among Republicans and 59 - 31 percent among independent voters. Support ranges from 51 - 37 percent among upstate voters to 63 - 25 percent among suburban voters to 73 - 23 percent among New York City voters. Ban on Texting While Driving Voters also support 94 - 5 percent Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to ban texting or typing while driving. Support tops 90 percent among all groups, even young voters. The appropriate penalty for someone caught texting while driving is a $100 reckless driving ticket and points on the driver's license, voters say 79 - 19 percent, again with no serious dissent. Voters reject more severe penalties: 51 - 46 percent against suspending a texter's driver's license; 59 - 39 percent against police confiscating the smart phone, or other offending device. "Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed ban on texting-while-driving is one of those apple-pie- and-motherhood things. And New Yorkers love their apple pie," Carroll said. "When the Quinnipiac University poll first asked about banning cell phones while driving, New York State voters supported the ban 87 - 10 percent on March 29, 2001. A few months later, New York became the first state in the nation to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving." New York State should have an independent commission to draw legislative district lines, 42 percent of voters say, while 34 percent want a commission that has some input from the State Legislature and 14 percent favor the current system where the State Legislature draws the lines. "Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch got a lot of politicians to promise they'd reform how legislative district lines are drawn, but it didn't get done," Carroll said. "Actually, there's no pressure to make the fix until next year. New Yorkers still want some reform 5 -1. "Wait until next year - or a special session." From June 20 - 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,317 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia 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. 22. Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature or an independent commission with some legislative input? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom State legislature 14% 16% 17% 8% 13% 15% Commissn/No connect 42 37 39 53 45 38 Commissn/legis input 34 37 36 29 33 34 DK/NA 10 11 8 10 8 12 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds State legislature 12% 17% 15% 12% Commissn/No connect 45 41 38 52 Commissn/legis input 34 32 37 26 DK/NA 10 11 11 10 TREND: Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected: the state legislature, a commission that has no connection to the state legislature, or an independent commission with some legislative input? Jun 28 Jun 02 Apr 14 2011 2011 2011 State legislature 14 13 12 Commissn/No connect 42 46 51 Commissn/legis input 34 31 29 DK/NA 10 10 7 23. Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of rent a landlord can charge a tenant? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 62% 48% 73% 59% 60% 63% Oppose 29 42 20 31 31 28 DK/NA 9 10 7 10 9 9 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Support 51% 73% 63% 67% Oppose 37 23 25 26 DK/NA 12 4 12 7 TREND: Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of rent a landlord can charge a tenant? Jun 28 Jun 02 Apr 14 2011 2011 2011 Support 62 62 59 Oppose 29 31 33 DK/NA 9 6 8 24. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 54% 30% 67% 56% 53% 55% 55% 42% Oppose 40 63 28 39 42 39 40 50 DK/NA 5 7 4 4 5 6 5 9 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 49% 60% 52% 70% 57% 59% 37% Oppose 43 36 43 26 39 36 57 DK/NA 7 4 4 4 4 5 6 WHITE...... No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Prot Cath Jew Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K Support 40% 48% 67% 78% 51% 45% 61% 64% Oppose 54 48 30 17 47 51 34 31 DK/NA 6 5 3 5 2 5 4 5 COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes Support 46% 67% Oppose 49 27 DK/NA 5 5 TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? SUPPORT... High Low Jun 28 Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24 Jan 27 Jun 02 Apr 15 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2004 Support 54 58 56 54 56 58 37 Oppose 40 36 38 39 37 36 66 DK/NA 5 6 5 7 7 6 8 25. Do you think New York State's proposed same-sex marriage law will create pressure on religious organizations to perform same-sex marriages? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 47% 58% 42% 47% 49% 46% 46% 60% No 46 37 52 46 46 47 48 34 DK/NA 6 6 6 7 5 7 6 6 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 46% 48% 49% 43% 45% 48% 51% No 46 47 46 53 51 49 38 DK/NA 7 6 5 4 4 4 11 WHITE...... No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Prot Cath Jew Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K Yes 52% 50% 38% 33% 53% 51% 48% 42% No 39 48 55 60 39 45 46 54 DK/NA 9 2 8 7 8 4 6 3 COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes Yes 53% 39% No 41 56 DK/NA 6 5 26. Does opposition to same-sex marriage by religious leaders make you more likely to support same-sex marriage, less likely to support same-sex marriage, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 10% 3% 15% 9% 11% 10% 11% 10% Less likely 16 30 11 13 16 16 16 20 Doesn't make a diff 70 65 70 75 70 70 71 65 DK/NA 4 2 4 3 3 4 2 5 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ More likely 10% 12% 6% 12% 9% 11% 10% Less likely 17 15 16 14 15 14 23 Doesn't make a diff 70 67 76 73 73 73 63 DK/NA 3 5 2 2 3 2 4 WHITE...... No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Prot Cath Jew Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K More likely 9% 6% 13% 18% 8% 9% 10% 11% Less likely 17 21 17 3 20 23 11 12 Doesn't make a difference 72 70 66 76 65 66 76 76 DK/NA 1 3 4 3 6 3 3 1 COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes More likely 8% 13% Less likely 20 10 Doesn't make a diff 68 75 DK/NA 4 2 27. Governor Cuomo has proposed extending driving restrictions to ban texting or typing while driving. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good idea 94% 91% 96% 94% 91% 96% Bad idea 5 8 3 5 7 3 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 2 1 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 92% 95% 94% 93% 92% 96% 94% Bad idea 6 4 5 5 7 4 4 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 - - 1 28a. Do you think - Having their driver's license suspended would be an appropriate penalty for someone caught texting or typing while driving or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 46% 46% 49% 42% 41% 50% No 51 51 48 56 56 46 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 3 3 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 44% 50% 45% 34% 44% 42% 61% No 54 48 52 66 52 56 36 DK/NA 3 3 4 - 5 2 4 28b. Do you think - Being charged with reckless driving, with a $100 ticket plus points on their license would be an appropriate penalty for someone caught texting or typing while driving or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 79% 83% 80% 77% 76% 83% No 19 15 18 21 22 15 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 2 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 77% 78% 86% 74% 82% 80% 83% No 19 22 12 25 17 19 14 DK/NA 4 - 2 1 1 1 3 28c. Do you think - Police confiscating their computer, phone, or device being used would be an appropriate penalty for someone caught texting or typing while driving or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 39% 43% 41% 31% 33% 44% No 59 53 58 65 66 52 DK/NA 3 4 1 4 2 4 AGE IN YEARS............ UpStat NYC Sub 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 41% 39% 34% 23% 38% 41% 51% No 56 60 62 77 60 58 45 DK/NA 3 1 4 - 2 1 5
