General Politics

Voters Question International Trial for Israel

Americans favor the use of international courts for crimes against humanity but have more confidence in a verdict reached by courts in this country. The Palestinians hope to have Israel tried for such crimes at the International Criminal Court, but Americans tend to think that's a bad idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely Voters favor the use of international courts for crimes such as genocide and war atrocities. Just 14% oppose the use of such courts. One-in-four (23%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Pass On Chance to Tell Congress What They Think

Voters complain that their congressional representatives don't listen to them, but very few are likely to attend a local meeting held by any of those representatives during the current August recess. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 14% of Likely U.S. Voters have attended or are likely to attend a town hall meeting held by one of their local representatives while Congress is in recess. That’s down slightly from 18% this time last year. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Despite Justice Department Challenges, Most Still Favor Voter ID Laws

A federal judge in North Carolina recently struck down the latest challenge by the U.S. Justice Department to a state law that requires voters to bring photo identification to the polls. Voters continue to strongly support voter ID laws and don't consider them discriminatory.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of Likely U.S. Voters believe all voters should be required to prove their identity before being allowed to vote. Nineteen percent (19%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New High: 43% Say U.S. Doesn’t Spend Enough on National Security

As tensions remain high with Russia and much of the Middle East, more voters than ever believe the United States is not putting enough money into national security.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security. This finding is up from 36% in May and is the highest finding in three years of regular tracking. Twenty-three percent (23%) still believe the United States spends too much on defense, but that's down 17 points from the record high of 40% in January 2013. Thirty percent (30%) say the amount spent in this area is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Think Obama, Congress Are Slackers

Note to President Obama and Congress: Don’t call voters for a job reference. Voters are evenly divided when asked if the president works harder than they do, but they are overwhelmingly convinced that Congress doesn’t.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think President Obama works harder than they do, but just as many (42%) disagree. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

When It Comes to Government, Voters Opt for Small

Midway through his presidency in the 1990s, Bill Clinton declared that “the era of big government is over.” Half of Americans wish that were true.

Just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the era of big government is over, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-five percent (55%) disagree and say it's still with us. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

Obama vs. Congress: Voters Say It’s Politics, Not Policy

President Obama and Republicans in Congress oppose each other on most major issues facing the nation, but few voters believe this political struggle is about substance.

Just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters think the opposition between the two is mostly due to honest differences of opinion, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-nine percent (69%) say this opposition is due mostly to partisan politics. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 31- August 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Oppose Obama Acting Alone But Don’t Think House Can Stop Him

Most voters agree with Republicans in Congress that the president does not have the right to change laws without Congress’ approval, but they doubt a House lawsuit will stop him from acting on his own. The House voted last week to sue President Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority by making changes in the new national health care law after it had been passed by Congress. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 22% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president should be able to change a law passed by Congress if he thinks the change will make the law work better.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 31- August 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Few Voters See Post-Gadhafi Libya As Good for America

With Libya descending further into political chaos, voters aren’t sure it was a good idea for the United States to help overthrow the longtime dictator there and definitely don’t want any further U.S. involvement in the troubled North African country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 19% of Likely U.S. Voters think the changes in Libya over the last three years including the death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi will be good for the United States. Twenty-five percent (25%) believe those changes will be bad for this country, while 29% say they will have no impact. Another 26% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 2-3, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters See Illegal Immigration As Bigger National Security Worry Than Russia, Gaza

U.S. voters rate the latest immigration crisis as a bigger national security problem for this country than Russia and the renewed fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters, given these three options, consider the growing illegal immigration problem to be a bigger national security concern for the United States. Thirty-one percent (31%) view Russia as the bigger problem. Twenty-three percent (23%) think the situation in Gaza is the bigger danger facing the country. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 29-30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

54% Believe Obama Wants Most New Illegal Immigrants to Stay

Voters think President Obama is doing a poor job handling the latest immigration crisis and believe he wants to let most of the new illegal immigrants stay here despite majority support for their quick deportation.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters want the U.S. government to send these new illegal immigrant children home as quickly as possible. Thirty-six percent (36%) think instead that the government should process them more slowly to determine whether any should be allowed to stay in the United States. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This marks a slight increase in favor of quick deportation from earlier this month. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 29-30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Number of Fiscal Conservatives Up to Highest Level in Past Year

The number of voters who consider themselves fiscally conservative continues to climb, while one-in-three say they are social liberals.

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now identify themselves as conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation. That’s up from 41% in April and is the highest finding since last July. Just 14% are liberal in this area, while 37% view themselves as moderates. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 23-24, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What Helps Voters Decide - Looks? Sex? Race? Issues?

Americans are model voters when you ask them what motivates their voting decisions.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of American Adults believe most of their fellow citizens are not informed voters, but most voters beg to differ in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 27-28, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Favor Cutting U.S. Aid to Israel, Palestinians to Force Peace

Most voters oppose more direct U.S. involvement to end the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza but favor cutting some or all U.S. funding to the two sides to force a peace settlement. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should get more directly involved if the violence continues between Israel and the Palestinians. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disagree and say the United States should leave the situation alone. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Say Airliner Shootdown Won’t Scare Them Out of Flying

Most Americans don’t think air travel can ever be made completely safe from incidents like last week's shootdown in Ukraine, but they also say the tragedy won’t prevent them from flying in the future.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nine percent (9%) of American Adults believe air travel can be made completely safe from incidents like the one in Ukraine, but 71% disagree. Another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters See A More Divided Nation; GOPers More Enthusiastic to Vote

Voters strongly believe the United States is a more divided nation these days, and they think both sides are to blame. Most are also ready to do something about it at the ballot box in November.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Likely U.S. Voters say America is a more divided nation than it was four years ago. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just seven percent (7%) think the country is less divided now, while 21% rate the level of division as about the same.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Airliner Shootdown? U.S. Voters Think Russia Did It

U.S. voters are overwhelmingly convinced that Russia had a hand in the shootdown of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine, but they also strongly believe any punishment should be a multinational one and not come from just the United States alone.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that Russia was involved in some way in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 last Thursday, with 57% who consider it Very Likely. Just seven percent (7%) think it’s not very or Not At All Likely that Russia was involved, but another 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 19-20, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Voters Want to Send Latest Illegal Immigrants Home ASAP

Most voters don’t want any of the young illegal immigrants who’ve recently arrived here housed in their state and say any legislation passed by Congress to deal with the problem should focus on sending them home as soon as possible.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the primary focus of any new immigration legislation passed by Congress should be to send the young illegal immigrants back home as quickly as possible. Just 27% say it should focus instead on making it easier for these illegal immigrants to remain in the United States. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 15-16, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

48% Favor Gay Marriage, 41% Oppose

As same-sex marriage gains traction in the courts, an increasing number of Americans are voicing support for it.

Nearly half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters now favor gay marriage, up from a previous high of 45% in regular tracking since last October. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% still oppose gay marriage, while 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 13-14, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters React to Plan to Reduce Prison Overcrowding, Restore Felons' Voting Rights

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker are working on bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. criminal justice system, in part to reduce the U.S. prison population. But while most voters agree with restoring voting rights to non-violent felons, they are less enthusiastic about requiring all states to raise the minimum age someone can be tried as an adult. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters believe there are too many Americans in prison today. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, while 24% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 13-14, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.