Voters weigh in on tobacco taxes, conceal carry permits, right-to-work, voter ID, drug testing, common core, raw milk
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A new voter poll finds only 18 percent of voters currently believe West Virginia is headed in the right direction with a whopping 71 percent stating that it is not.
The poll, conducted by Orion Strategies surveys the opinions of historic likely voters on a number of issues currently being considered by the West Virginia Legislature as well as national issues in the news.
Among other issues, the poll notes that West Virginia voters feel worse about the direction of the state than any other poll taken by Orion Strategies in the last 10 years. Only 18 percent of voters currently believe West Virginia is headed in the right direction with a whopping 71 percent stating that it is not.
“The polling data gives us a pretty solid understanding of the way West Virginian voters feel about various pertinent issues,” said Curtis Wilkerson, principal of Orion Strategies. “We have incorporated a significant number of demographics in our sample to ensure that it is a statistical match for West Virginia’s voting population– gender, age, geography, party – to see what voters are really feeling about these important issues.”
Of topics being debated this week in the West Virginia Legislature, 59 percent support raising tobacco and cigarette taxes to help fund the Public Employee Insurance Agency – and 52 percent of those supporting it believe that the increase should be one dollar or more. Further on the issue of taxation, 78 percent of voters support West Virginia offering breaks to entice new businesses to locate in the state.
On the issue of selling raw milk, voters aren’t overwhelmed either direction with 44 percent supporting and 41 percent opposing. A super majority of 71 percent believes that one should have a permit in order to carry a concealed firearm.
Regarding education issues, 81 percent of historic likely voters believe that there are certain educational concepts and standards that students in every grade should learn regardless of the teacher or school and 77 percent believe that students should take an end-of-year test to determine if they have learned a certain amount of knowledge during that school year. 54 percent of West Virginia’s voters support the state replacing Common Core with the West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards.
A slim majority, within the margin of error, believes that the coal industry will be no better once President Obama leaves office (44 percent to 43 percent). And while 82 percent of West Virginia voters believe the state should pay for education and training opportunities for out-of-work coal miners, that number drops to 74 percent for those out-of-work in other industries.
On the national issues front, a majority of West Virginians does not support Donald Trump’s plans to register all Muslims (50 percent against to 38 percent for) in the United States. A slight plurality is also against deporting all illegal Mexican immigrants (47 percent against to 43 percent for) that have immediate family members that are United States citizens. Two-thirds (65 percent) of voters believe it should be illegal for those on the “No Fly List” to purchase firearms.
West Virginia voters were asked whether the President should nominate a Supreme Court Justice, in light of Justice Scalia’s recent death, or if the next president elected should make the appointment in 2017. A majority of voters believe the current president should make the appointment (52 percent to 45 percent). Also, a majority of voters (51 percent to 40 percent) believe that the United State Senate should consider the President’s nomination instead of waiting until after the next general election.
Regarding international issues, more people support deploying ground troops against ISIS in the Middle East than are against it (46 percent for to 38 percent against).
The live-interview telephone survey was conducted among historic, likely voters in West Virginia. A total of 306 respondents completed the entire survey – giving the poll a 5.6 +/- margin of error with a 95 percent confidence rate. The sample was proportionate to each of the three congressional districts in the state. All 55 counties were called, and results were collected from 53 of those counties. Partisan registration among respondents was 50 percent Democratic, 35 percent Republican and 15 percent Independent.
“I’m not sure it’s fair to say we were surprised by some of the numbers,” Wilkerson said. “But it’s always interesting to find out what voters actually believe aside from the message being trumpeted by loud minorities from different ends of issue spectrums.”
Thursday, Orion Strategies will release results regarding political races that will be on the May Primary Ballot in West Virginia, as well as this fall’s General Election.
Orion Strategies, a strategic communication firm with offices in Charleston and Buckhannon, conducts polling and research surveys on behalf of various clients, including trade associations, law firms, universities, media outlets and political campaigns. The firm also conducts surveys for change of venue requests on prominent court cases. Curtis Wilkerson, Principal of Orion Strategies, is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research. Learn more about Orion Strategies at:
Key Findings
Do you believe citizens should be required to show a state or federal issued photo ID before being allowed to vote?
77% Yes 20% No 3% Unsure
Should West Virginia implement mandatory drug testing to help determine eligibility for welfare and other forms of government aid and assistance?
77% Yes 18% No 5% Unsure
Would you support an increase to the tobacco and cigarette tax to help fund the Public Employee Insurance Agency?
59% Yes 34% No 6% Unsure
Do you believe that the tax should be increased an additional 45-cents, or do you believe it should be raised $1 or more?
34% $0.45 52% $1 14% Unsure
Do you support the sale of alcohol starting at 10 A.M. on Sundays in restaurants and wineries?
38% Yes 55% No 7% Unsure
Do you believe that there are certain educational concepts and standards that students in every grade should learn regardless of the teacher or school?
81% Yes 9% No 11% Unsure
Should students take a test at the end of each year to determine if they have or have not learned a certain amount of knowledge during the school year?
77% Yes 18% No 5% Unsure
In regards to public education, do you support West Virginia replacing the Common Core content standards with the West Virginia College and Career Readiness standards?
54% yes 15% No 31% Unsure
Should West Virginia permit the sale of raw unpasteurized milk?
44% Yes 41% No 15% Unsure
Do you believe that WV should offer tax breaks to entice new businesses that would not otherwise relocate to the state?
78% yes 16% No 6% Unsure
Do you believe that the state should pay for education and training opportunities for out-of-work coal miners?
82% Yes 16% No 3% Unsure
Do you believe these same education and training opportunities should also be paid for in regards to other out-of-work individuals other than coal miners?
74% Yes 21% No 5% Unsure
In 2013, WV passed a new law to allow for Public Private Partnerships on large highway construction projects. Route 35, the Coalfields Expressway and Corridor H have had projects awarded using this program – which allows for contractors to build now and be paid over time. Do you believe that the legislature should renew this legislation?
63% Yes 16% No 21% Unsure
Do you believe that people should need a permit in order to carry a concealed firearm?
71% Yes 27% No 2% Unsure
Do you believe that West Virginia’s coal industry will recover after President Obama leaves office?
43% Yes 44% no 13% Unsure
(Note that totals may not equal 100% due to rounding)
