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Voters Evenly Divided on Prop. 23

Ballot Initiative Would Repeal California's 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act

Contact: USC News at (213) 740-2215 or USCNews@usc.edu


LOS ANGELES, Calif. — September 26, 2010 — California's voters are deeply divided on Proposition 23, with 40 percent of likely voters saying they favorthe measure, and 38 percent saying they are opposed, according to the latest USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Poll.

The ballot measure would, if passed, suspend California's 2006 global warming statute — which set newstandards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — until the state's unemployment rate drops below 5.5 percent for at least four quarters.

The initiative is hotly-contested by advocacy groups, and a reported $10 million is expected to be spent both for and against the measure.

Likely Democratic voters in California oppose the measure strongly, with 49 percent in opposition and only 27 percent in favor.  Likely Republican voters favor the measure even more strongly, with 57 percent in support, and 26 percent in opposition.  Voters who declined to state party affiliation are split, with 43 percent in favor and 38 percent in opposition.

Sixty-nine percent of likely California voters believe global warming is an important issue, according to the poll.

The USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll was conducted September 15 through 22, with a sampling of 1,511 registered voters, which includes 887 likely voters.

About the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences/Los Angeles Times Poll: The USC College/Los Angeles Times Poll project is a series of six statewide public opinion polls that began November 8, 2009, and will continue throughout California’s crucial 2010 elections for governor and U.S. Senate.

These polls will be taken at regular intervals and will be designed to survey California residents’ attitudes on a wide range of political, policy, social and cultural issues to better inform the public and to encourage discourse on key political and policy issues.

About USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences: USC College of Letters, Art & Sciences is the university’s primary center for research and education in the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. The largest of USC’s 19 academic schools, USC College is composed of more than 30 academic departments and more than 20 Ph.D. programs, and is home to more than two dozen research centers and institutes.

About the Los Angeles Times: The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2 million and 3 million on Sunday, and a combined print and interactive local weekly audience of 4.5 million. The fast-growing latimes.com draws over 10 million unique visitors monthly.

 
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