Ohio (OH) Poll * November 13, 2007 * Ohio Voters Reject 7-1 Driver' - Quinnipiac University

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November 13, 2007 - Ohio Voters Reject 7-1 Driver's Licenses For Illegal Aliens, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But Most Would Not Deport Illegal Immigrants

Word format Ohio voters oppose 84 - 11 percent issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, and by large margins favor building a fence along the Mexican-U.S. border and creating a national ID card for all legal residents and citizens. They also oppose, 61 - 35 percent, providing a free public education to children of those in the United States illegally, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be allowed to work to apply for legal status, 55 percent of Ohio voters say, while 38 percent say they should be deported. By seven-to-one margins, voters oppose giving illegal immigrants access to government health insurance or social services such as welfare or food stamps, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
"Immigration may be an issue that divides voters in some parts of the country, but not in Ohio where public opinion is very firmly opposed to efforts that would make it easier for illegal aliens to become part of American society," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Although Ohio voters don't favor deporting illegal immigrants already here, they firmly oppose providing incentives for them to stay."
The survey also found that Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland remains popular with a 61 - 15 percent job approval rating, up from 58 - 18 percent September 5.
"Strickland's numbers remain rock solid and benefit from his 51 - 21 percent approval rating among Republicans," said Brown.
By a 67 - 19 percent margin, Ohio voters think illegal immigrants do more to hurt than help the United States, but voters believe 73 - 18 percent that legal immigrants help the country.
Ohio voters say 53 - 34 percent that illegal immigrants take jobs nobody wants, rather than jobs Americans need.
In general, voters favor tougher measures to deal with illegal immigration:
They favor 82 - 12 percent stricter penalties on employers who hire illegal workers; In addition to the 84 - 11 percent margin against issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, voters oppose 75 - 17 percent issuing limited driver's licenses that could not be used for things like getting on airplanes or crossing borders; They support 61 - 32 percent the government issuing a tamper proof identification card to all those living in America legally; By 60 - 34 percent, voters say build a fence along the U.S.- Mexican border; By margins of 86 - 11 percent and 85 - 12 percent respectively, they oppose providing illegal immigrants with government-financed health care and with social services such as welfare and food stamps.
"The message to presidential candidates from Ohio, perhaps the most important swing state in the Electoral College, is that voters - be they Democrats, Republicans or independents - are very frustrated with illegal immigration and come down on the side of toughness rather than accommodation," Brown said.
From November 6 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,231 Ohio voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 61% 51% 74% 61% 61% 61% 60% Disapprove 15 21 9 15 16 15 13 DK/NA 24 28 18 24 24 24 27 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 70% 61% 64% 77% 46% 55% Disapprove 13 16 12 12 20 16 DK/NA 17 23 24 11 35 29
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor? (* also 61% on 7/11/07)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 13 Sep 5 Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Nov 13 Feb 1 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007* 2007 Approve 61 58 61 54 53 61 45 Disapprove 15 18 15 16 12 15 12 DK/NA 24 24 25 30 34 24 43
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 41% 45% 45% 38% 39% 43% 42% Disapprove 32 28 32 35 38 28 28 DK/NA 26 27 23 27 23 29 30 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 46% 39% 52% 49% 34% 37% Disapprove 27 35 26 28 31 40 DK/NA 27 26 22 22 35 23
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 13 Sep 5 Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Nov 13 Dec 12 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 Approve 41 38 39 37 38 41 25 Disapprove 32 37 35 37 36 32 55 DK/NA 26 25 25 25 26 26 20
24. In general, how serious a problem do you think illegal immigration is in the United States? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very serious 63% 73% 51% 65% 61% 65% 72% Smwht serious 26 23 32 24 26 27 20 Not very serious 7 2 10 8 9 6 5 Not a prob at all 3 1 4 2 3 2 2 DK/NA 1 - 3 - 2 1 - Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Very serious 69% 59% 56% 66% 64% 67% Smwht serious 19 31 35 21 23 20 Not very serious 9 6 6 5 9 10 Not a prob at all 3 2 3 8 2 1 DK/NA - 1 1 1 2 2
25. Overall, do you think illegal immigrants do more to help the country or do more to hurt the country?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Help 19% 12% 23% 21% 20% 17% 12% Hurt 67 76 63 62 67 66 74 DK/NA 15 12 14 17 12 16 14 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Help 21% 17% 33% 12% 15% 17% Hurt 69 68 55 66 65 70 DK/NA 10 15 12 22 20 13
26. Overall, do you think legal immigrants do more to help the country or do more to hurt the country?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Help 73% 79% 70% 72% 74% 72% 71% Hurt 18 15 17 22 19 17 22 DK/NA 9 7 13 5 7 11 7 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Help 76% 75% 71% 54% 73% 72% Hurt 16 17 24 33 14 19 DK/NA 7 8 5 13 13 9
27. Do you think illegal immigrants mostly take jobs that nobody wants or do they mostly take jobs away from Americans who need them?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl That nbdy wants 53% 56% 53% 55% 50% 56% 52% Take jobs away 34 32 36 32 37 33 36 DK/NA 12 13 11 12 13 11 12 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt That nbdy wants 48% 53% 67% 41% 58% 53% Take jobs away 42 34 23 44 29 34 DK/NA 10 13 9 15 13 12
28. If you had to choose, what do you think should happen to most illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for at least two years - they should be given a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status or they should be deported back to their native country.
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Keep/legal stat 55% 42% 67% 57% 53% 57% 48% Deported back 38 50 28 36 40 37 46 DK/NA 7 8 6 7 6 7 6 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Keep/legal stat 52% 57% 60% 60% 51% 55% Deported back 44 37 34 34 39 38 DK/NA 4 6 7 6 11 6
29. Do you think there should or should not be stricter enforcement and stiffer penalties against employers who hire illegal workers?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes/Should 82% 90% 76% 81% 83% 81% 86% No/Should not 12 7 14 14 13 10 8 DK/NA 6 4 10 5 3 8 6 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Yes/Should 86% 82% 71% 86% 83% 81% No/Should not 10 12 17 6 8 15 DK/NA 3 6 12 9 9 4
30. Do you think state governments should or should not issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Should 11% 3% 19% 12% 10% 13% 8% Should not 84 95 74 82 86 82 89 DK/NA 5 2 7 6 5 5 3 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Should 9% 11% 12% 9% 9% 20% Should not 85 84 86 87 83 78 DK/NA 6 5 2 4 8 2
31. Do you think state governments should or should not issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants as long as they can't be used for such things as getting on an airplane or crossing the border?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Should 17% 5% 28% 18% 14% 20% 15% Should not 75 91 62 73 80 71 79 DK/NA 7 3 10 9 6 9 6 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Should 11% 17% 24% 22% 16% 23% Should not 82 74 74 70 77 69 DK/NA 7 9 2 8 7 8
33. Do you come into contact with illegal immigrants in your everyday life or don't you know?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 33% 30% 30% 36% 36% 31% 30% No 40 41 41 40 38 42 46 Don't know 27 29 29 25 26 27 24 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Yes 40% 28% 27% 30% 44% 35% No 35 45 49 52 32 29 Don't know 25 28 25 18 24 35
34. Do you support or oppose government issuing a tamper proof national ID card to all people living in the United States legally?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 61% 64% 64% 55% 59% 62% 59% Oppose 32 30 28 38 37 28 35 DK/NA 7 6 9 7 4 9 7 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 62% 63% 61% 54% 59% 56% Oppose 32 32 32 35 31 37 DK/NA 6 6 7 12 10 8
35. Do you support or oppose government building a fence along the US-Mexican border to reduce illegal immigration?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 60% 72% 53% 54% 62% 59% 64% Oppose 34 22 41 40 35 34 29 DK/NA 6 5 6 5 4 7 7 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 65% 60% 50% 58% 62% 61% Oppose 32 33 45 33 34 34 DK/NA 3 7 5 9 4 5
36. Do you support or oppose government requiring that employers verify the validity of worker's social security numbers used to gain employment?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 88% 93% 83% 89% 86% 90% 89% Oppose 8 5 11 9 10 6 9 DK/NA 4 2 7 2 4 3 2 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 92% 87% 92% 79% 89% 87% Oppose 5 10 4 15 4 10 DK/NA 2 3 4 6 7 3
37. Do you support or oppose government discouraging illegal workers from gatheringin parking lots and street corners where employers can hire them for day work?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 48% 53% 43% 51% 48% 48% 51% Oppose 45 42 49 42 46 44 43 DK/NA 7 5 8 7 6 8 6 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 60% 46% 37% 41% 44% 50% Oppose 36 47 55 49 46 41 DK/NA 4 6 9 10 9 8
38. Do you support or oppose providing illegal immigrants with government financed health insurance?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 11% 5% 16% 11% 8% 13% 7% Oppose 86 94 79 85 90 82 90 DK/NA 4 1 5 3 2 5 3 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 10% 11% 8% 4% 14% 13% Oppose 88 85 90 89 80 86 DK/NA 2 4 2 7 6 1
39. Do you support or oppose providing illegal immigrants with social services such as welfare, food stamps and housing assistance?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 12% 6% 17% 14% 11% 14% 10% Oppose 85 92 79 84 87 83 89 DK/NA 3 1 4 2 2 3 1 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 9% 13% 13% 13% 14% 13% Oppose 89 85 86 81 82 85 DK/NA 2 2 1 6 4 1
40. Do you support or oppose providing illegal immigrants with a free public education for the children of illegal immigrants?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 35% 20% 44% 40% 34% 36% 26% Oppose 61 77 52 56 63 60 70 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 36% 38% 37% 33% 33% 26% Oppose 61 59 57 61 63 72 DK/NA 3 4 6 7 4 2