Majority of Americans Support Campaign Finance Reform Ipsos Poll on behalf of the Center for Public Integrity Washington, DC, August 24, 2017 — In the latest Ipsos poll conducted for the Center for Public Integrity, nearly one in five Americans (18%) assume lawmakers spend 21-40 hours fundraising each week. The poll also revealed that almost half of Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, with 48% opposing versus 30% supporting the decision. Republicans are more likely to come out in favor of the decision, with 39% supporting it. Given the chance to change the campaign finance system, a majority of Americans (57%) would place limits on the amount of money super PACs can raise and spend. This change is especially popular among Democrats, where nearly two thirds (65%) support limiting super PACs fundraising and spending. 1. How many hours each week do you think lawmakers spend fundraising? 0 1-5 6-10 11-20 21-40 Median Number Chosen 2. Tel: Democrats 14% 22% 22% 23% 19% 10 Republicans 10% 23% 25% 22% 15% 10 Independents 9% 22% 22% 19% 27% 10 Republicans 10% 13% 16% 13% 40% 8% 24% 53% Independents 7% 16% 25% 9% 33% 9% 23% 43% How familiar are you with the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision? Very familiar Somewhat familiar Not very familiar Have heard of it, but that’s it Have not heard about it Don’t know Familiar (Net) Unfamiliar (Net) Address: Total 12% 23% 23% 21% 18% 10 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Total 8% 16% 20% 11% 36% 9% 25% 47% Democrats 9% 22% 19% 11% 32% 6% 31% 43% Contact: Email: Tel: Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 1 3. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010 allowed so-called “super PACs” to raise and spend unlimited amounts of campaign cash from corporations, nonprofits and people. Some people oppose this decision because they believe it encourages corporate political spending, limiting the voice of individual Americans. Others support Citizens United because they believe it protects Americans’ first amendment rights for all groups that want to support candidates financially. To what extent do you support or oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Don’t know Support (Net) Oppose (Net) 4. Tel: Republicans 14% 25% 26% 16% 19% 39% 42% Independents 5% 14% 27% 33% 22% 19% 60% Total Democrats Republicans Independents 57% 65% 52% 61% 42% 42% 43% 46% 15% 13% 17% 17% 10% 11% 9% 9% 4% 17% 2% 15% 6% 16% 3% 12% Republicans 24% 38% 38% - Independents 100% - In just a few words, what does “draining the swamp” mean to you? See verbatims With which political party do you most identify? Strong Democrat Moderate Democrat Lean Democrat Lean Republican Moderate Republican Strong Republican Independent Other Address: Democrats 7% 23% 22% 29% 19% 30% 51% If you could change the campaign finance system, you would… (Select all that apply): Place limits on the amount of money super PACs can raise and spend Require disclosure of donors to nonprofit organizations Eliminate limits on the amount of money individuals can give to candidates Allow super PACs to coordinate with candidates Make no change Don’t know 5. 6. Total 9% 21% 24% 24% 22% 30% 48% 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Total 14% 14% 10% 7% 12% 12% 22% 2% Democrats 36% 37% 26% - Contact: Email: Tel: Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 2 Don’t know/Refuse Address: Tel: 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 6% - Contact: Email: Tel: - - Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 3 About the Study These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted August 28-29, 2017 on behalf of the Center for Public Integrity. For the survey, a sample of roughly 1,011 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 350 Democrats, 348 Republicans, and 220 Independents. The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’s online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2013 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,011, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=5). The poll also has a credibility interval plus or minus 6.0 percentage points for Democrats, plus or minus 6.0 percentage points for Republicans, and plus or minus 7.5 percentage points for Independents. 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