CBS NEWS POLL

 

Race and Voting Rights: 50 Years After Selma

 

February 26-March 2, 2015

 Q1. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad? TOTAL RESPONDENTS TotalWhiteBlackDec14c % % % % Good52563245 Bad38355843 Don't know/no answer10 91013 Q2. Do you think race relations in YOUR COMMUNITY are generally good or generally bad? Good79826378 Bad16142917 Don't know/no answer 5 4 8 5 Q3. Some people say that since the 1960s there has been a lot of real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination against blacks. Others say that there hasn't been much real progress for blacks over that time. Which do you agree with more? Would you say there's been a lot of real progress getting rid of racial discrimination or hasn't there been much real progress? Jun14c2 Progress76815078 No real progress20154619 Don't know/no answer 4 4 4 2 Q4. Do you think there will always be a lot of racial prejudice and discrimination in America, or is there real hope of ending it in the long run? Mar14d Always prejudice and discrimination44406046 Real hope50543552 None now (vol.) 1 1 * * Don't know/no answer 5 5 4 1

 

Q5. Thinking about the goals of Martin Luther King and the 1960's civil rights movement, do you think that all of their goals have been achieved, most have been achieved, only some have been achieved, or almost none of their goals have been achieved? Jun14c2 All 6 7 2 5 Most37382538 Only some51496752 Almost none 3 1 5 2 Don't know/no answer 4 5 * 3 Q6. As you may know, the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960's to prevent state and local governments from using rules and procedures which prevented many black people and other racial minorities from voting. Do you think it was necessary to pass the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities were allowed to vote, or don’t you think that was necessary? TOTAL RESPONDENTS TotalWhiteBlack % % % Necessary919197 Was not necessary 6 5 3 Don't know/no answer 3 4 1 Q7. Do you think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities are allowed to vote, or do you think the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary? Necessary today595586 No longer necessary353913 Don't know/no answer 6 6 1 Q8. In general, who do you think is more likely to encounter problems when trying to vote – (white people), (black people), or isn’t there much difference? White people 3 3 2 Black people272157 No difference677339 Don't know/no answer 3 3 2 Q9. Do you favor or oppose states requiring people to show valid photo identification before they are permitted to vote? Favor798366 Oppose191531 Don't know/no answer 2 2 4 Q10. In recent years, some state legislatures and officials have shortened the voting hours and times available for people to vote early or absentee. From what you may have heard, do you think such efforts are (probably an attempt to save money for states with budget problems), or (probably an attempt to make it harder for minority and lower income groups to vote), or haven't you heard enough about this yet to say?

 

 To save money232612 Make it harder to for minorities to vote211649 Haven’t heard enough to say495238 Don't know/no answer 6 7 2 Q11. In general, how widespread do you think voter fraud is in U.S. elections, such as people voting who are not eligible to vote? Do you think this happens a lot, sometimes, not much, or not at all? TOTAL RESPONDENTS TotalWhiteBlack % % % A lot282731 Sometimes363733 Not much222323 Not at all 9 8 9 Don't know/no answer 6 5 5 Q12. The 1965 Voting Rights Act had required states with low voter registration rates and a history of voter suppression to get approval from the federal government before changing their election and voting laws. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this requirement was no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree with this Supreme Court decision, or don’t you know enough to say? Agree2023 9 Disagree141321 Don't know enough to say656269 Don't know/no answer 1 1 1 Q13. When you vote in elections, how much confidence do you have that your vote will be counted accurately--a lot, some, not much, or no confidence your vote will be counted accurately? A lot535742 Some262629 Not much 9 816 No confidence 7 6 7 Don't know/no answer 5 3 6 Q14. Thinking about times when you have voted or tried to vote in the past, have you ever encountered any problems while trying to vote, or not? Yes 8 712 No888983 Don't know/No answer 4 3 5