FOR RELEASE: JUNE 23, 2009

NEW YORK STATE VOTERS SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGEQUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;MAYOR SHOULD KEEP SCHOOL CONTROL, BUT SHARE IT

New York State voters support 51 – 41 percent, with 8 percent undecided, a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.This is the first poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) Universityshowing support for same-sex marriage in New York State, where voters split 46 – 46 percent onthis issue in a May 14 survey and opposed same-sex marriage 55 – 37 percent in an April 15,2004, poll.In this latest survey, women support same-sex marriage 58 – 35 percent, while menoppose it by a narrow 48 – 44 percent margin. Same-sex marriage wins 65 – 28 percent fromDemocrats and 52 – 42 percent from independent voters, while Republicans oppose it 66 – 27 percent. The proposal wins 52 – 42 percent support from white voters and 55 – 39 percent fromHispanics. Black voters split with 43 percent in favor and 42 percent opposed.Voters who attend religious services at least once a week are opposed 63 – 31 percent,while those who attend less frequently support same-sex marriages 61 – 31 percent. Support alsorises with income and education level. New York State voters support same-sex civil unions 68 – 25 percent, with support fromall groups, including 55 – 37 percent among Republicans. Overall support was 65 – 27 percentMay 14.“It’s the slimmest of majorities, but for the first time in a Quinnipiac University poll of New York State, same-sex marriage is ahead,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the QuinnipiacUniversity Polling Institute. “Supporters have worked hard in the last six weeks, moving theneedle from dead even to slightly ahead. Who knows how far they can move that needle in thenext six weeks if the State Legislature doesn’t act.”

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Maurice Carroll, DirectorQuinnipiac University Polling InstituteRubenstein Associates, Inc.,Public RelationsPat Smith (212) 843-8026

Quinnipiac University Poll/June 23, 2009 – page 2

“It is interesting to note that support for same-sex civil unions, which gay marriageadvocates say is an unacceptable alternative, has barely moved,” Carroll added.Given three choices:

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46 percent of New York State voters say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry;

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27 percent say they should be allowed to form civil unions;

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20 percent say there should be no legal recognition.

Mayoral Control of New York City Schools

New York State voters say 51 – 33 percent that the State Legislature should renew thelaw that gives the New York City Mayor control of the public schools. Support is 61 – 32 percent among New York City voters and 63 – 23 percent in the suburbs, while upstate voterssplit with 37 percent in favor of mayoral control and 38 percent opposed.But when voters are asked if the Mayor should share control of the schools with the NewYork City Council, they agree 50 – 37 percent. Voters do not agree 43 – 40 percent, that theMayor should share school control with the borough presidents, a public office about which few people outside of New York City are aware.“Voters overall think Mayor Michael Bloomberg, or his successor, should retain controlof New York City schools. Support is higher among suburban voters, who have experience withschool boards, than it is among New York City voters, who have experience with Bloomberg,”Carroll said.“Just as in last week’s Quinnipiac University poll of New York City voters, voters wouldlike to have the Mayor share control with the City Council. Since nobody north of The Bronxknows what a borough president is, they didn’t fare so well.“And of course none of this means anything unless the State Senate puts its house inorder and gets back to work.”From June 16 – 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,477 New York State registeredvoters, with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts publicopinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio andnationwide as a public service and for research.

For more data or RSS feed –http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml,or call (203) 582-5201.

31. As you may know, in New York City the mayor has control of the public schools.Mayoral control of the New York City public schools expires this year, unless thestate legislature renews it. Do you think mayoral control of the New York City publicschools should continue or not?Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HisContinue 51% 50% 51% 53% 55% 46% 50% 52% 45%Stop 33 32 34 30 32 33 31 39 43DK/NA 17 18 15 16 13 20 19 9 12UpState..... UpStateUrban Othr Total NYC SubContinue 36% 37% 37% 61% 63%Stop 30 39 38 32 23DK/NA 34 24 25 8 1532. Do you think the New York City mayor should share control of the public schoolswith the city council or not?Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HisYes 50% 44% 55% 47% 48% 51% 47% 64% 53%No 37 42 31 40 42 32 38 26 39DK/NA 14 14 14 13 10 17 15 10 8UpState..... UpStateUrban Othr Total NYC SubYes 45% 48% 48% 53% 47%No 28 33 33 39 40DK/NA 27 18 19 7 1333. Do you think the New York City mayor should share control of the public schoolswith the borough presidents or not?Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HisYes 40% 35% 46% 35% 37% 42% 36% 59% 49%No 43 46 37 48 50 36 45 31 37DK/NA 18 19 17 17 14 22 20 10 14UpState..... UpStateUrban Othr Total NYC SubYes 30% 35% 34% 46% 40%No 36 39 38 46 46DK/NA 35 26 27 8 1434. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HisSupport 51% 27% 65% 52% 44% 58% 52% 43% 55%Oppose 41 66 28 42 48 35 42 42 39DK/NA 8 7 8 6 8 7 6 16 5Cont’d