Methodology The University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office (SRO) is dedicated to the principles of transparency in research and is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative. Membership entails adherence to AAPOR’s code of ethics as well as a commitment to promoting the understanding of survey methodology and how it relates to survey quality. For more information about project methodology, please contact the UIS Survey Research Office at sro@uis.edu. The 2019 Illinois Issues Survey was designed and analyzed by the staff of the Center for State Policy and Leadership, the Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies, and the Survey Research Office at the University of Illinois Springfield. This project is co-sponsored by the Center for State Policy and Leadership, NPR Illinois, and the Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield. The study was conducted in English by the Survey Research Office via the Qualtrics Research Suite. The online panel was provided by Qualtrics. The survey was fielded from September 13-September 23, 2019 among a sample of 1,012 registered voters, all at least 18 years or older, in Illinois. For all respondents the credibility interval is plus or minus 3.5. While a margin of error is often used to express uncertainty in polling, for online surveys credibility intervals are used to measure the accuracy, or uncertainty, of the survey. When examining subgroups, the credibility interval will increase. The survey includes quotas for gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, and region of the state. The sample was weighted based on the demographic composition of these groups in Illinois using the most recent population estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. For additional information on weighting, please click here. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to multiple sources of error, including but not limited to sampling error, coverage error, and measurement error. The survey included various checks to ensure the validity of the data collected from respondents. Click here for an extended explanation for all the checks Qualtrics does for their panels. Notes for reading the results: – Percentages may not always add up to 100 percent due to rounding. – Values less than 0.5 percent are indicated by an asterisk (*). Survey Sample Compared to Illinois Group Male Female Weighted Sample Illinois 48% 49% 52% 51% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 24% 18% 29% 29% 24% 18% 29% 29% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 40% 25% 35% 40% 25% 35% White Black Hispanic Other 62% 14% 13% 10% 62% 14% 17% 7% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 31% 33% 36% 34% 32% 34% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 46% 30% 24% 46% 30% 24% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 53% 15% 30% Analysis Of the health issues presented, a lack of access to mental health services (55%) is the most common community health issue to be reported as “very serious” by respondents in the 2019 Illinois Issues Survey. 50% of respondents cite prescription pill abuse as a “very serious” issue. Obesity (40%) and gambling addiction (21%) have the lowest amount of respondents. Across political party lines, there are many similarities on every issue, but one difference is in the lack of access to mental health services. Democrats/Democrat-leaning voters (62%) are more likely to say that a lack of access to mental health services is a very serious issue in their community than their Republican/Republican-leaning (44%) and non-leaning independent (55%) counterparts. All three regions analyzed cite access to mental health services as one of the most pressing issues. For Cook County, the two topics with the highest levels of respondents are a lack of access to mental health services (59%) and a lack of access to healthcare (57%). Respondents in the collar counties are more like to cite prescription pill abuse (50%) and a lack of access to mental health services (48%) as very serious issues. Downstate voters are more likely to cite a lack of access to mental health services (57%) and heroin abuse (52%) as very serious issues. While men and women responded similarly to most health issues, they differ in their assessments on the lack of access to healthcare as a very serious issue (41% of men to 54% of women). Men and women also differ in their attitudes towards access to mental health services (49% of men to 61% of women). Lack of access to mental health services (51%) and prescription pill abuse (48%) are the two issues with the highest percentage of White respondents. For Black respondents, the most prominent issues reported are a lack of access to mental health services (75%) and a lack of access to healthcare (68%). Lack of access to healthcare (60%) and lack of access to mental health services (58%) are also the two issues to have the highest percentage of Hispanic voters. A majority of 2019 respondents (59%) report that immigrants help Illinois rather than hurt it. This result is similar to responses in 2018 (63%). Perhaps the most substantial difference in opinion came when factoring party affiliation. Democrat/Democrat-leaning voters (75%) are significantly more likely to say immigrants help Illinois than Republicans/Republican-leaning voters (34%), with non-leaning independents (56%) responding somewhere in the middle. Cook County voters (69%) are more likely to say immigrants help Illinois than voters from collar counties (60%) and downstate counties (47%). When it comes to gender, female respondents (63%) are more likely than male respondents (56%) to say immigrants help Illinois. Over two thirds (71%) of people under the age of 35 believe that immigrants help Illinois. This finding is much higher than the responses from people ages 35 to 44 (60%), 45 to 59 (51%), and 60 and older (58%). When looking at race and ethnicity, White respondents (51%) are much less likely to say immigrants help Illinois than Black respondents (72%), and Hispanics (79%). About three quarters (74%) of voters who attained a four-year degree or more say immigrants help Illinois. This result compares to those who have between a high school diploma and a four-year degree (60%) and those who have a high school diploma or less (54%). All three income groups had similar rates report that immigrants help Illinois. Those who reported a household income of less than $45,000 (58%), between $45,001 and $100,000 (60%), and over $100,000 (62%) are all within a few percentage points of each other. On the issue of “DREAMers,” the vast majority of Illinois voters (73%) support the right for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to stay. A wide disparity lies within partisanship, where Democrats/Democrat-leaning respondents (86%) are far more likely than Republican/Republican-leaning respondents (50%) to say they support DREAMers’ right to stay. Support for DREAMers varies across regions of the state. Respondents in Cook County (81%) had the highest amount of support, collar counties (70%) the second, and downstate counties (63%) show considerably less support. Female respondents (76%) are more likely to support DREAMers remaining in the country than male respondents (69%) are. At least two-thirds of voters of all ages said they support DREAMers, but the highest support is held by those under the age of 35 (80%), with those ages 45 to 59 having the lowest level of support at 68%. About two-thirds (66%) of Whites in Illinois support DREAMers staying in America compared to Black respondents (87%) and Hispanic respondents (88%), who showed much higher amounts of support. 82% of voters with a four-year degree or more said they support DREAMers remaining in the country. This result compares to voters who have a high school diploma or less (73%) or something in between a high school diploma and a fouryear degree (71%). The survey also asked about the level of priority policymakers should give to global climate change, where the vast majority responded that politicians should give it the top priority (44%). This rate is consistent with national polling 1. Democrats/Democrat-leaning voters (57%) are at odds with Republicans/Republican-leaning voters (22%) on whether global climate change should be a top priority for policymakers. Downstate and collar counties (each 40%) had similar sentiments towards addressing global climate change as a top priority, while Cook County (51%) had slightly over half of its respondents agree. Men (44%) and women (45%) reported at similar rates that policymakers should give climate change top priority. When it comes to age, most voters under the age of 35 (51%) say global climate change should be a top priority. Those between ages 45 to 59 (38%) had the least number of respondents say the same. There is some variance when it comes to race and ethnicity. White respondents (40%), Black respondents (47%), and Hispanic respondents (55%) all differed in whether global climate change should be a top priority for policymakers. People that have between a high school diploma and a four-year degree (51%), and those with a four-year degree or more (49%), had about half of respondents say climate change should be a top priority. This result compares to those who had a high school diploma or less (38%) at about a third. Income inequality is widely regarded as a problem by the vast majority of respondents (82%). There is a variance when accounting for partisanship. Democrats/Democrat-leaning voters (94%) almost unanimously agree that income inequality is a problem, compared to Republican/Republican-leaning voters (63%). Voters across regions in the state have less variance in their evaluations, as voters in Cook County (86%), the collar counties (79%), and downstate (80%) counties all had similar results. Both women (87%) and men (76%) had at least three-quarters of respondents say income inequality is a problem. At least three-quarters of each age group also said they feel income inequality is a problem. The lowest level of support for this position is 77% from those ages 65 and up, and the highest is 87% for those respondents aged 35 to 44. White respondents had the least number of net respondents (78%) say they believe income inequality is a problem, while Black respondents had the most at 92%. Educational attainment 1 Pew Research Center. 2018. “Conflicting Partisan Priorities for U.S. Foreign Policy.” subgroups all had similar responses. Those with a high school diploma or less (84%), a high diploma or something less than a four-year degree (86%), and a four-year degree or more (82%) are all within a few points of each other. 86% of people who reported a household income of less than $45,000 view income inequality as a problem, while 77% of people with an income of over $100,000 report the same. Less than half of Illinois voters are likely to say most people can be trusted (39%). Republican/Republican-leaning voters (45%) are more likely to say they can trust most people than their Democrat/Democrat-leaning counterparts (39%). Non-leaning independents are least likely to report people can be trusted (32%). Results across regions vary somewhat. Voters from the collar counties (43%) are most likely to say most people can be trusted, and downstate voters are the least likely (36%). Males (46%) are more likely to say people can be trusted than women are (33%). Over half of voters ages 60 and over (51%) say people can be trusted, while just 34% of those ages 45 to 59 hold the same view. Whites (42%) and “other” races (41%) had higher rates of trust in others than Black (30%) and Hispanic (31%) voters. Over half (51%) of voters who attained a four-year college degree or more say they tend to trust people. This result compares to those who have a high school diploma or less (35%) or something in between high school and a four-year degree (28%). Respondents who reported a household income under $45,000 (32%) and those who report $45,001 to $100,000 (36%) express similar rates of trust, significantly lower than individuals who earn more than $100,000 (56%). While trust in most people is generally low, trust in the Illinois media is much more favorable (59%). Democrat/Democrat-leaning voters (73%) showed a much higher level of trust in the Illinois news media’s accuracy and fairness than Republican/Republican-leaning voters (42%). About two-thirds (65%) of Cook County respondents say they trust the Illinois media compared to only about half (52%) of people from downstate counties. Women (62%) are more likely to report trust in the Illinois news media than men are (56%). Of the age groups, people 35 to 44 (51%) had the lowest amount of trust in the Illinois media reporting fairly and accurately, compared to respondents ages 18 to 34 and 60 and older, both tied at 60%. White respondents (55%) are less likely to report trusting the media compared to Black respondents (72%), who are more likely to say they have trust in the press. When factoring in education, voters with a high school diploma or less (62%), a high school diploma or something less than a four-year degree (59%), and a four-year degree or more (63%) generally agreed in their trust of the Illinois news media. While 59% of voters report trusting the Illinois media, a larger amount reports the local news media is important (83%). Democrats/Democrat-leaning voters (92%) are far more likely to give more importance to local news media than Republican/Republican-leaning voters (75%) and non-leaning independents (73%). Cook County (90%) respondents are most likely to report that local news media is important, while the lowest level of support came from downstate counties (78%). Women (86%) are slightly more likely than men (81%) to report local news media as important. People ages 60 and older (87%) had the highest score in terms of importance given to local news media, though voters of all ages had at least 80% in this category. Although 80% of White respondents say that the local news media is important to their community, this sentiment jumps to 93% for Black respondents and 92% for Hispanic respondents. Crosstabs The next few questions ask about health issues. For these questions, think just about your community. Currently, how serious of a problem do you consider each of the following health issues to be? (Percentage is those who selected Very Serious) Group Heroin Abuse Prescription Pill Abuse Lack of Access to Healthcare Gambling Addiction Obesity 48% Lack of Access to Mental Health Services 55% All Respondents 48% 50% 21% 40% Male Female 48% 48% 49% 52% 41% 54% 49% 61% 20% 21% 36% 44% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 54% 51% 52% 37% 52% 56% 52% 43% 52% 55% 56% 33% 56% 60% 65% 42% 26% 23% 22% 13% 43% 44% 43% 34% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 49% 41% 52% 52% 50% 48% 57% 39% 45% 59% 48% 57% 26% 17% 17% 37% 44% 39% White Black Hispanic Other 47% 57% 52% 36% 48% 61% 53% 42% 41% 68% 60% 48% 51% 75% 58% 51% 17% 36% 23% 20% 36% 56% 46% 40% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 55% 51% 51% 54% 23% 43% 55% 58% 59% 63% 23% 47% 31% 40% 44% 53% 15% 39% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 54% 44% 40% 53% 48% 48% 53% 46% 41% 60% 50% 53% 24% 21% 14% 42% 41% 36% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 49% 51% 57% 62% 21% 44% 51% 47% 44% 55% 27% 37% 47% 52% 35% 44% 18% 34% Illinois currently has an immigrant population of 1.8 million individuals, including 500,000 of whom are undocumented. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view, even if neither is exactly correct? Group All Respondents Immigrants Help Illinois 59% Immigrants Hurt Illinois 41% Male Female 56% 63% 44% 37% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 71% 60% 51% 58% 29% 40% 49% 42% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 69% 60% 47% 31% 40% 53% White Black Hispanic Other 51% 72% 79% 73% 49% 28% 21% 27% High School Diploma or Less 54% 46% Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 60% 40% 74% 26% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 58% 60% 62% 42% 40% 38% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 75% 56% 34% 25% 44% 66% In general, do you support or oppose allowing undocumented immigrants who are brought to the United States as children, also known as DREAMers, to remain in the country? Group All Respondents Support Strongly Somewhat Oppose Somewhat Strongly Net Support Support Net Oppose Oppose 73% 40% 33% 28% 16% 12% Male Female 69% 76% 38% 42% 31% 34% 31% 23% 15% 16% 16% 7% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 80% 71% 68% 71% 49% 43% 33% 36% 31% 28% 35% 35% 20% 29% 32% 29% 12% 19% 17% 16% 8% 10% 15% 13% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 81% 70% 63% 49% 35% 32% 32% 35% 31% 18% 30% 37% 11% 18% 20% 7% 12% 17% White Black Hispanic Other 66% 87% 88% 75% 32% 51% 65% 44% 34% 36% 23% 31% 33% 13% 11% 25% 19% 9% 8% 12% 15% 4% 3% 13% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 73% 38% 35% 26% 17% 9% 71% 40% 31% 28% 15% 13% 82% 47% 35% 18% 10% 8% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 73% 71% 72% 42% 35% 41% 31% 36% 31% 27% 29% 28% 15% 17% 16% 12% 12% 12% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 86% 57% 29% 13% 9% 4% 70% 27% 43% 30% 16% 14% 50% 16% 34% 51% 26% 25% How much priority, if any, do you think dealing with global climate change should be given by policymakers? Group All Respondents Top Priority Some Priority No Priority 44% 41% 15% Male Female 44% 45% 41% 41% 15% 14% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 51% 41% 38% 47% 42% 45% 44% 35% 7% 13% 18% 18% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 51% 40% 40% 40% 43% 42% 9% 17% 19% White Black Hispanic Other 40% 47% 55% 43% 45% 33% 17% 9% 12% High School Diploma or Less 38% 46% 15% Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree 51% 36% 14% Four-Year Degree or More 49% 35% 16% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 46% 42% 44% 39% 44% 43% 15% 14% 14% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 57% 41% 22% 37% 42% 49% 6% 17% 28% How much of a problem do you think income inequality is in the United States today? Group Problem Net Very Somewhat Not a Serious Serious Problem Problem Problem Net Not Too Not a Serious Problem of a Problem 13% 5% All Respondents 82% 44% 38% 18% Male Female 76% 87% 38% 49% 38% 38% 23% 12% 17% 9% 6% 3% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 85% 87% 83% 77% 47% 51% 49% 32% 38% 36% 34% 45% 15% 13% 17% 24% 11% 9% 13% 17% 4% 4% 4% 7% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 86% 79% 80% 51% 35% 43% 35% 44% 37% 13% 21% 21% 10% 13% 16% 3% 8% 5% White Black Hispanic Other 78% 92% 85% 90% 39% 60% 50% 47% 39% 32% 35% 43% 21% 7% 15% 10% 16% 5% 11% 2% 5% 2% 4% 8% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 84% 44% 40% 16% 12% 4% 86% 51% 35% 15% 10% 5% 82% 43% 39% 18% 11% 7% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 86% 80% 77% 53% 39% 34% 33% 41% 43% 14% 20% 22% 11% 15% 14% 3% 5% 8% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 94% 56% 38% 6% 5% 1% 80% 40% 40% 19% 14% 5% 63% 24% 39% 37% 27% 10% Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can’t be too careful in dealing with people? Group Can’t Be Too Careful All Respondents Most People Can Be Trusted 39% Male Female 46% 33% 54% 67% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 35% 34% 34% 51% 65% 66% 66% 49% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 39% 43% 36% 61% 57% 64% White Black Hispanic Other 42% 30% 31% 41% 58% 70% 69% 59% High School Diploma or Less 35% 65% Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 28% 72% 52% 48% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 32% 36% 56% 68% 64% 44% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 39% 32% 45% 61% 68% 55% 61% In general, how much trust do you have in the media in Illinois—such as local newspapers, TV, and radio— when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairly? Group All Respondents Positive Net 59% A Great Deal 12% A Fair Amount 47% Negative Net 41% Not Very Much 29% None at All 12% Male Female 56% 62% 13% 12% 43% 50% 44% 38% 29% 29% 15% 9% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 62% 51% 59% 62% 15% 8% 9% 17% 47% 43% 50% 45% 38% 49% 41% 38% 27% 37% 27% 28% 11% 12% 14% 10% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 65% 59% 52% 15% 10% 11% 50% 49% 41% 34% 40% 48% 29% 25% 32% 5% 15% 16% White Black Hispanic Other 55% 72% 62% 66% 11% 19% 12% 13% 44% 53% 50% 53% 45% 28% 37% 33% 31% 25% 28% 24% 14% 3% 9% 9% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and FourYear Degree Four-Year Degree or More 62% 12% 50% 38% 26% 12% 59% 13% 46% 41% 29% 12% 63% 14% 49% 37% 31% 6% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 60% 60% 58% 14% 10% 12% 46% 50% 46% 40% 40% 42% 30% 24% 33% 10% 16% 9% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Non-leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 73% 16% 57% 27% 23% 4% 56% 13% 43% 45% 25% 20% 42% 8% 34% 58% 38% 20% And how important do you think local news media is to your community? Group Important Net Very Important Important Unimportant Net Unimportant 31% 52% 16% 13% Male Female 81% 86% 26% 36% 55% 50% 19% 14% 15% 12% 4% 2% 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 and Older 83% 81% 83% 87% 25% 26% 34% 37% 58% 55% 49% 50% 17% 18% 16% 13% 13% 15% 13% 11% 4% 3% 3% 2% Cook County Collar Counties Downstate 90% 82% 78% 38% 28% 26% 52% 54% 52% 10% 17% 22% 8% 13% 19% 2% 4% 3% White Black Hispanic Other 80% 93% 92% 85% 26% 48% 37% 33% 54% 45% 55% 52% 20% 7% 9% 15% 16% 5% 8% 11% 4% 2% 1% 4% High School Diploma or Less Between a HS Diploma and Four-Year Degree Four-Year Degree or More 86% 34% 52% 14% 12% 2% 88% 39% 49% 13% 11% 2% 85% 33% 52% 16% 13% 3% Under $45,000 $45,001 and $100,000 Greater than $100,001 86% 82% 82% 36% 27% 29% 50% 55% 53% 14% 18% 17% 12% 14% 13% 2% 4% 4% Democrat/Democrat Leaning Independent Republican/Republican Leaning 92% 40% 52% 7% 6% 1% 73% 75% 21% 22% 52% 53% 27% 24% 20% 20% 7% 4% All Respondents 83% Very Unimportant 3%