VPR – Vermont PBS 2020 Polls: September

If the presidential election were today, who would you vote for? For governor? Lieutenant governor? If a vaccine for the coronavirus was developed in the next year, how eager would you be to get it? How optimistic are you about the future of your community?The VPRVermont PBS 2020 Poll asked hundreds of Vermonters these questions and more. Find out where your neighbors stand on the issues.

Note: This is the third of three polls conducted in 2020 by VPR and Vermont PBS.

The Poll Results: At-A-Glance

Q1. How closely do you follow news about national and state politics? Would you say very closely, somewhat closely, not very much, or not at all?

37% Very closely43% Somewhat closely15% Not very much5% Not at all 604 Total Respondents

The full survey has a sampling error of 4%; this varies with the total respondents. See the Appendix below for the details on the sample and methods.

Q2-6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the following elected politicians are handling their jobs?

604 Total Respondents

Q7. How likely are you to vote in the November general election?

80% Definitely will vote11% Probably will vote4% Probably will not vote4% Definitely will not vote2% Not sure/No opinion  604 Total Respondents

Q8. If the presidential election were held today, would you vote for …

32% Republican Donald Trump56% Democrat Joe Biden6% Someone else2% None of the above3% Not sure/No opinion586 Total Respondents

Q8a. Is the reason you are voting for Trump more because you support Trump or more because you oppose Biden?

68% Support Trump24% Oppose Biden6% Neither2% Not sure/No opinion175 Total Respondents

Q8b. Is the reason you are voting for Biden more because you support Biden or more because you oppose Trump?

30% Support Biden63% Oppose Trump4% Neither2% Not sure/No opinion346 Total Respondents

Q9. If the election for Vermont’s governor were held today, would you vote for …

55% Republican Phil Scott24% Democrat Progressive David Zuckerman0% Independent Wayne Billado 0% Independent Michael Devost0% Unaffiliated Charly Dickerson1% Independent Kevin Hoyt1% Independent Erynn Hazlett Whitney1% No one/Not voting on this item16% Other/Not sure/No opinion0% Refused586 Total Respondents

Q10. If the election for Vermont’s lieutenant governor were held today, would you vote for …

31% Republican Scott Milne35% Democrat Molly Gray4% Progressive Cris Ericson0% Banish the F35s Party candidate Ralph Corbo2% Independent Wayne Billado4% No one/Not voting on this item24% Other/Not sure/No opinion586 Total Respondents

Q11. If the election for U.S. House of Representatives were held today, would you vote for …

57% Democrat Peter Welch18% Republican Miriam Berry2% Independent Peter Becker1% Independent Marcia Horne0% Independent Shawn Orr0% Independent Jerry Trudell1% Communist candidate Christopher Helali6% No one/Not voting on this item16% Other/Not sure/No opinion586 Total Respondents

Q12. Are you likely to vote early or wait until Nov. 3 to cast your ballot?

44% Vote early47% Vote on Nov. 39% Not sure1% Refused586 Total Respondents

Q13. Will you likely vote by mail or in person?

45% Vote by mail49% Vote in person6% Not sure586 Total Respondents

Q14. If you voted in the 2016 presidential election, did you vote for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, someone else, or were you not able to vote in 2016?

28% Trump35% Clinton15% Other20% Did not vote2% Not sure/Don’t remember1% Refused604 Total Respondents

Q15. If Phil Scott were to challenge Sen. Patrick Leahy in the next Senate election, would you favor Scott or Leahy?

41% Scott38% Leahy7% Neither15% Not sure/Don’t remember604 Total Respondents

Q16. In general, how confident are you that the 2020 presidential election will be conducted fairly? Would you say you are …

19% Very confident35% Somewhat confident29% Not too confident14% Not confident at all3% Not sure 604 Total Respondents

Q17. In thinking about American history, which statement comes closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right:A. The U.S. may not have been perfect, but focusing on its historical flaws makes the country weaker-OR-B. It makes the U.S. stronger

15% Closer to statement A 77% Closer to statement B3% Neither5% Not sure/No opinion1% Refused604 Total Respondents

Q18. Would you support or oppose a law to create a system for selling marijuana that is taxed and regulated by the Vermont state government?

68% Support24% Oppose8% Not sure/No opinion604 Total Respondents

Q19. Given the current state of the pandemic, do you favor or oppose having K-12 schools open for in-person instruction?

52% Favor34% Oppose14% Not sure/No opinion604 Total Respondents

Q20. Given the current state of the pandemic, do you favor or oppose Vermont universities and colleges having students back on campus?

48% Favor42% Oppose9% Not sure/No opinion1% Refused604 Total Respondents

Q21. If a vaccine for COVID-19 were developed in the next 12 months, how eager or reticent would you be to get vaccinated as early as possible?

19% Very eager29% Somewhat eager22% Somewhat reticent21% Very reticent 6% Not sure/No opinion3% Refused604 Total Respondents

Q22. Has the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic made you more proud of being a Vermonter, less proud of being a Vermonter, or has it had no impact on your level of pride?

59% More proud32% No impact5% Less proud4% Not sure/No opinion604 Total Respondents

Q23. Thinking about the future of your community, are you very optimistic, somewhat optimistic, somewhat pessimistic, or very pessimistic?

23% Very optimistic42% Somewhat optimistic12% Neither optimistic nor pessimistic17% Somewhat pessimistic5% Very pressimistic1% Don’t know/Refused604 Total Respondents

Q24. If you were to advise an 18-year-old considering where to build a successful life and career, would you recommend that he or she stay in Vermont or leave Vermont?

47% Stay in Vermont36% Leave Vermont17% Not sure/It depends1% Refused604 Total Respondents

Q25. Given the state of national politics, would you support or oppose an effort in Vermont to secede from the United States and re-establish Vermont as an independent republic?

22% Support64% Oppose13% Not sure/No opinion604 Total Respondents

Full Results, Method, Sampling Error & Survey

Download the Poll Data, Methodology, Sampling Error, Weighted Data & Survey Instrument

Attribution & Credit

Attribution

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  • Provide credit/attribution to the “VPR – Vermont PBS 2020 Poll” everywhere the data is used, e.g. broadcast, web, social media
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Credit

The VPR – Vermont PBS 2020 Poll is a collaboration between Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS and was made possible by our supporters. Braun Research conducted the poll under the direction of Dr. Richard Clark.