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Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lunna Lopes

Key findings from the current survey: Most Californians (56%) say affordability is a big problem in the state’s public colleges and universities. Only 18 percent say overall quality is a big problem.

Report

California’s Missing Voters: Who Is Not Voting and Why

By Eric McGhee

Despite an uptick in voter registration and turnout for last year’s election, California’s long-term trends in voter participation are disappointing. Mobilizing key groups—especially Latinos, Asian Americans, and young people—will be crucial to ensure future civic engagement in the state.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus

A majority of Californians disapprove of President Trump’s order banning travel to the US by people from six majority Muslim countries. And most support providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Crosstabs:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

Time Trends:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

This research was supported with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, the California Endowment, and the PPIC Donor Circle.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus

Californians give the state’s public higher education system high marks, but see affordability as a big problem. Most say higher education funding is inadequate but also believe that existing funds need to be used more wisely. While nearly all see the system as important to the state’s future, Californians are divided on whether a college education is necessary for individual success in today’s economy.

Crosstabs:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

Time Trends:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

The survey was supported with funding from the Arjay and Frances Miller Foundation, the Flora Family Foundation, John and Louise Bryson, Walter Hewlett, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by a wide margin in California, and most likely voters are very interested in the upcoming presidential debates.
  • In the US Senate race, Kamala Harris leads Loretta Sanchez by 7 points; many Californians remain undecided or say they will not vote in this race.
  • Just under half of likely voters support the state school bond ballot measure, while majorities favor measures to increase cigarette taxes, extend a tax on high incomes, and legalize marijuana.
  • Most Californians oppose building a wall along the border with Mexico, and most say there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay legally. Clinton and Trump supporters are split on these issues.

Crosstabs:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

Time Trends:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

The survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation and the PPIC Donor Circle.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Ten years after California enacted AB 32, strong majorities support the law’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goal and favor expanding it.
  • Most Californians say they are willing to pay more for electricity from renewable sources to help reduce global warming.
  • When asked about the most important environmental issue facing the state, more Californians name water supply and drought than any other issue.
  • Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump in the presidential race; in the US Senate matchup, Kamala Harris leads Loretta Sanchez.

Crosstabs:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

Time Trends:
All Adults [PDF]
Likely Voters [PDF]

The survey was supported with funding from The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Pisces Foundation, and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

Report

What to Expect from California’s New Motor Voter Law

By Eric McGhee, Mindy Romero

In 2015, California passed major legislation to increase the state’s voter rolls by simplifying the voter registration process. Under the New Motor Voter Act, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will electronically transmit information about DMV customers who are eligible to vote to the California Secretary of State, which will add eligible customers to the voter rolls unless they opt out.

We find that this law has the potential to significantly alter the demographic composition of the California electorate, making the population of registered voters more representative of the state as a whole. Our estimates also suggest that the new system may rapidly expand the voter rolls, adding more than 2 million new registrants in the first year.

Key implementation issues will decide the impact of the New Motor Voter Act. To ensure the law’s success, the state should require DMV customers to attest to their eligibility to vote as a precondition for completing their transaction. It will also be necessary to mobilize new registrants aggressively if they are to become new voters.

Report

Regulating Marijuana in California

By Patrick Murphy, John Carnevale

If California legalizes recreational marijuana, the state should develop a single highly regulated marijuana market—for medical and recreational uses. Key policy goals will also need to be addressed—including limiting the illegal market, protecting public health and safety, and raising revenue for the state

Report

California’s Exclusive Electorate: Who Votes and Why It Matters

By Mark Baldassare

Only half of California's adults are likely to vote in the 2016 presidential election, and these voters do not reflect the state's diversity, attitudes, or policy preferences. Changes to the election process will bring in new voters, but broader solutions are needed — including providing civics education, increasing economic mobility, and expanding citizenship rates.

This research was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

Report

Putting California’s Voter Turnout in Context

By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm

Record-low turnout in recent elections and lagging registration rates have spurred efforts to make voting and registration easier. This report takes an in-depth look at both the scope and the nature of the problem, and explores additional reforms that might be pursued.

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