Most Americans Support Believe Election Laws are Necessary for Fair Elections Ipsos Poll on Behalf of the Center for Public Integrity Washington DC, December 11, 2017 — Only half of Americans believe our elections are fair and open (50%), with an overwhelming majority in favor of federal election laws. Three quarters (76%) think interest groups should follow the same campaign or election laws as political candidates, with 79% believing federal election laws are necessary to ensure fair elections. Support for payment disclosure for political TV and online ads is also high, with 85% believing political TV ads should be required to say who paid for the ad and 84% believing the same about political ads online. Despite these strong views, just 29% of Americans are familiar with the Federal Election Commission, the independent regulatory agency that enforces campaign finance law in federal elections. 1. How familiar are you, if at all, with the Federal Election Commission (FEC)? Very familiar Somewhat familiar Heard the name Never heard of Don’t know Addres s: Tel: 1 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Total 8% 21% 31% 30% 10% Democrat 10% 22% 34% 27% 8% Contac t: Email: Tel: Republican 9% 25% 28% 29% 9% Independent 7% 21% 34% 26% 12% Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 2. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the FEC 3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements: a. Interest groups should follow the same campaign or election laws as political candidates Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Agree (Net) Disagree (Net) Total 48% 28% 9% 3% 12% 76% 12% Democrat 53% 26% 9% 3% 9% 79% 12% Republican 47% 33% 9% 3% 9% 80% 12% Independent 55% 26% 6% 2% 11% 81% 8% b. Political TV ads should be required to say who paid for the ad Addres s: Tel: 2 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Contac t: Email: Tel: Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Agree (Net) Disagree (Net) Total 57% 28% 6% 3% 5% 85% 10% Democrat 62% 25% 6% 4% 3% 87% 10% Republican 55% 32% 8% 2% 2% 87% 11% Independent 69% 23% 3% 3% 3% 92% 5% c. Political ads online should be required to say who paid for the ad Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Agree (Net) Disagree (Net) Total 57% 27% 7% 3% 7% 84% 9% Democrat 63% 23% 7% 3% 3% 86% 10% Republican 52% 35% 7% 2% 3% 88% 9% Independent 69% 22% 2% 2% 5% 91% 4% d. Federal election laws are necessary to ensure fair elections Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Agree (Net) Disagree (Net) Total 51% 28% 8% 4% 10% 79% 11% Democrat 60% 25% 6% 3% 6% 85% 9% Republican 49% 34% 9% 2% 6% 83% 11% Independent 53% 27% 5% 7% 8% 80% 11% Democrat 15% Republican 23% Independent 10% e. American elections are fair and open Strongly agree Addres s: Tel: 3 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Total 16% Contac t: Email: Tel: Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Agree (Net) Disagree (Net) 34% 28% 15% 7% 50% 44% 32% 33% 19% 2% 46% 52% 41% 23% 7% 6% 64% 30% 37% 27% 20% 7% 47% 46% Democrat 36% 46% 18% - Republican 25% 41% 33% - Independent 100% - 4. With which political party do you most identify? Strong Democrat Moderate Democrat Lean Democrat Lean Republican Moderate Republican Strong Republican Independent Other Don’t know/Refuse Addres s: Tel: 4 2020 K Street NW, Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 +1 202 463-7300 Total 13% 17% 6% 7% 12% 10% 21% 3% 11% Contac t: Email: Tel: Chris Jackson Vice President, U.S., Ipsos Public Affairs chris.jackson@ipsos.com +1 202 420-2025 About the Study These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted December 7-11, 2017 on behalf of the Center for Public Integrity. For the survey, a sample of roughly 1,005 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 344 Democrats, 302 Republicans, and 228 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=1,005, 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 6.4 percentage points for Republicans, and plus or minus 7.4 percentage points for Independents. 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