Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5334 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843FOR RELEASE: 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
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 thats still a valid problem. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/June 28, 2011 page 2 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 Cuomos 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 drivers license, voters say 79 19 percent, again with no serious dissent. Voters reject more severe penalties:

51 46 percent against suspending a texters drivers license; 59 39 percent against police confiscating the smart phone, or other offending device. Gov. Andrew Cuomos 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 theyd reform how legislative district lines are drawn, but it didnt get done, Carroll said. Actually, theres 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 State legislature Commissn/No connect Commissn/legis input DK/NA 14% 42 34 10 Rep 16% 37 37 11 Dem 17% 39 36 8 Sub 15% 38 37 11 Ind 8% 53 29 10 Union HsHlds 12% 52 26 10 Men 13% 45 33 8 Wom 15% 38 34 12

UpStat NYC State legislature Commissn/No connect Commissn/legis input DK/NA 12% 45 34 10 17% 41 32 11

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 2011 State legislature Commissn/No connect Commissn/legis input DK/NA 14 42 34 10 Jun 02 2011 13 46 31 10 Apr 14 2011 12 51 29 7

23. Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of rent a landlord can charge a tenant? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 62% 29 9 Rep 48% 42 10 Dem 73% 20 7 Sub 63% 25 12 Ind 59% 31 10 Union HsHlds 67% 26 7 Men 60% 31 9 Wom 63% 28 9

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 51% 37 12 73% 23 4

TREND: Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of rent a landlord can charge a tenant? Jun 28 2011 Support Oppose DK/NA 62 29 9 Jun 02 2011 62 31 6 Apr 14 2011 59 33 8

24. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 54% 40 5 Rep 30% 63 7 Dem 67% 28 4 Sub 52% 43 4 Jew 67% 30 3 Ind 56% 39 4 Men 53% 42 5 Wom 55% 39 6 Wht 55% 40 5 Blk 42% 50 9

UpStat NYC Support Oppose DK/NA 49% 43 7 60% 36 4

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ 70% 26 4 57% 39 4 59% 36 5 37% 57 6

WHITE...... Prot Cath Support Oppose DK/NA 40% 54 6 48% 48 5

No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K 78% 17 5 51% 47 2 45% 51 5 61% 34 4 64% 31 5

COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes Support Oppose DK/NA 46% 49 5 67% 27 5

TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? SUPPORT... High Low Jun 02 Apr 15 2011 2004 58 36 6 37 66 8

Jun 28 2011 Support Oppose DK/NA 54 40 5

Jun 02 2011 58 36 6

Apr 14 2011 56 38 5

Feb 24 2011 54 39 7

Jan 27 2011 56 37 7

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 Yes No DK/NA 47% 46 6 Rep 58% 37 6 Dem 42% 52 6 Sub 49% 46 5 Ind 47% 46 7 Men 49% 46 5 Wom 46% 47 7 Wht 46% 48 6 Blk 60% 34 6

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 46% 46 7 48% 47 6

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ 43% 53 4 45% 51 4 48% 49 4 51% 38 11

Cont

25. (cont) Do you think New York State's proposed same-sex marriage law will create pressure on religious organizations to perform same-sex marriages? WHITE...... Prot Cath Yes No DK/NA 52% 39 9 50% 48 2 Jew 38% 55 8 No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K 33% 60 7 53% 39 8 51% 45 4 48% 46 6 42% 54 3

COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes Yes No DK/NA 53% 41 6 39% 56 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 More likely Less likely Doesn't make a diff DK/NA 10% 16 70 4 Rep 3% 30 65 2 Dem 15% 11 70 4 Sub 6% 16 76 2 Jew 13% 17 66 4 Ind 9% 13 75 3 Men 11% 16 70 3 Wom 10% 16 70 4 Wht 11% 16 71 2 Blk 10% 20 65 5

UpStat NYC More likely Less likely Doesn't make a diff DK/NA 10% 17 70 3 12% 15 67 5

AGE IN YEARS............ 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ 12% 14 73 2 9% 15 73 3 11% 14 73 2 10% 23 63 4

WHITE...... Prot Cath More likely Less likely Doesn't make a difference DK/NA 9% 17 72 1 6% 21 70 3

No ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.... Relign <30 30-50 50-100 >100K 18% 3 76 3 8% 20 65 6 9% 23 66 3 10% 11 76 3 11% 12 76 1

COLLEGE DEGREE No Yes More likely Less likely Doesn't make a diff DK/NA 8% 20 68 4 13% 10 75 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 Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 94% 5 1 Rep 91% 8 1 Dem 96% 3 1 Ind 94% 5 Men 91% 7 2 35-49 92% 7 Wom 96% 3 1 50-64 96% 4 65+ 94% 4 1

UpStat NYC Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 92% 6 1 95% 4 1

AGE IN YEARS............ Sub 18-34

94% 5 1 93% 5 2

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 Yes No DK/NA 46% 51 3 Rep 46% 51 3 Dem 49% 48 3 Ind 42% 56 3 Men 41% 56 3 35-49 44% 52 5 Wom 50% 46 3 50-64 42% 56 2 65+ 61% 36 4

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 44% 54 3 50% 48 3

AGE IN YEARS............ Sub 18-34

45% 52 4 34% 66 -

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 Yes No DK/NA 79% 19 2 Rep 83% 15 2 Dem 80% 18 1 Ind 77% 21 2 Men 76% 22 2 35-49 82% 17 1 Wom 83% 15 2 50-64 80% 19 1 65+ 83% 14 3

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 77% 19 4 78% 22 -

AGE IN YEARS............ Sub 18-34

86% 12 2 74% 25 1

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 Yes No DK/NA 39% 59 3 Rep 43% 53 4 Dem 41% 58 1 Ind 31% 65 4 Men 33% 66 2 35-49 38% 60 2 Wom 44% 52 4 50-64 41% 58 1 65+ 51% 45 5

UpStat NYC Yes No DK/NA 41% 56 3 39% 60 1

AGE IN YEARS............ Sub 18-34

34% 62 4 23% 77 -