WPR – St. Norbert College Wisconsin Survey 2014: Highlights

Periodically, WPR and St. Norbert College do a poll of Wisconsin residents to gauge their attitudes on particular subjects. This spring poll focused on political campaigns and Wisconsin’s take on social issues.Below, a selection of the questions and responses — the full survey results are available from St. Norbert College.

Generally speaking, would you say that things in the country are going in the right direction, or are they going in the wrong direction?

Right Direction32%
Wrong Direction63%
Not Sure5%

That’s down from a recent high of 46 percent who said the country was moving in the right direction, as of the fall of 2012.

Generally speaking, would you say that things in the state of Wisconsin are going in the right direction, or are they going in the wrong direction?

Right Direction57%
Wrong Direction38%
Not Sure5%

Respondents felt more optimistic about how things are going here in Wisconsin, compared to national affairs.

If the election for governor in Wisconsin were held today, for whom would you be more likely to vote: Republican Scott Walker or Democrat Mary Burke?

Gov. Scott Walker56%
Mary Burke40%
Not Sure4%

In 2006, Wisconsin passed an amendment to the state Constitution which states that “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” Do you favor or oppose this amendment?

Favor52%
Oppose43%
Not Sure4%
Refused1%

Support for the amendment has remained fairly stable for the last several years: in 2006, 51 percent of people said they supported it.

Do you favor or oppose policies which would grant legal protections for same-sex couples, such as hospital visitation, family leave, and end-of-life decisions?

Favor77%
Oppose18%
Not Sure4%
Refused1%

This spring’s results continue an upward trend for support of these legal protections — in 2009, 60 percent of respondents supported them.

As you may know, Colorado and Washington State now allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses that have been licensed by the state government to sell marijuana. Do you think Wisconsin should pass a similar law or should we keep marijuana illegal?

Wisconsin should pass similar law42%
Should remain illegal in Wisconsin52%
Not Sure6%
Refused0%

Currently the minimum wage in Wisconsin is $7.25 an hour. Do you think the minimum wage in Wisconsin should be raised, lowered or kept the same?

Raised75%
Kept the Same22%
Lowered1%
Not Sure2%
Refused<1%

The survey also specifically asked whether people would support raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, and found 57 percent favored that — still strong support, but notably less than the 75 percent for this question.

Compared to a year ago, do you feel that you are financially better off now, or worse off now than a year ago?

Better off now40%
Worse off now32%
Same27%
Not Sure<1%

Do you think the laws governing voting requirements in Wisconsin should be more restrictive, less restrictive or stay about the same?

More Restrictive30%
Stay the Same53%
Less Restrictive15%
Not Sure2%
Refused<1%