'tot!
A Special Report Based on a
Spot- Check Survey
NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Report No. 18
January 1944
This special report is based on a nation-wide
between
spot-check survey made
1943, and January 4 , 1944.
December 31
The cross-section
consisted of a typical miniature of the popu-
1ation
with the proper proportion
geographical section ,
and old
cans ,
of rioh and poor , young
men and women
and non-voters.
in eaoh
Democrats ,
Republi-
A !t spot-chBck survey
consists of few.er interviews than NORCl s regu-
lar surveys.
This survey includes 494
sanal interviews.
sufficient to be
times in 100
statistically these
within 6 per cent
perare
correct
on all questions reported.
SUI'1
More than nine out of ten Americans in all walks
Presidential
in the ooming
able to vot
should b
women in the armed forces
of life believe that men and
election.
made
EK-9
A large majority --about three out of four-- think
for most men in the a led forces overseas and on shipboard.
And
the public favors
by a preference of two to one
state responsibility for
getting ballots
federal rather than
women
to service men and
for the
Presidential election next November.
Of a series of quest ons on the subject of soldier voting, this one places the
issue
ost squarely before the public:
lNhich one of these two plans ,
to give men and women in the armed
election , do
forces a chance to vote in the coming Presidential
you prefer?*
1. I1
To pass a federal law providing
for
the
Army and NaVJ' to give ballots to all men
58%
and women over 21 in the armed forces.
te send ballots to men
2. " To have each sts.
and women over 21 in the armed forces who
under the laws
will be eligible to vote
of their state.
Undecided
Aroled forces overseas should not vote
100%
Nearly eight out of
ten
Americans think that
should be allowed to vote
Neg;roe 2 in the
the same basis as anyone else.
Only one person in five thinks that the military vote would
the other the edge
armed services
give one party or
and opinion is divided as to which party might gain an
advant age.
* This question Was not only read aloud by the interviewer , but each respondent
was handed a card with the question printed on it.
- 1 -
SHOULD SERVIC XEN S ATIOli8D OVERSEAS VOTE?
YES
92%
? NO
I = lOO%
Yes t! when asked whether or
not men and .women
stationed outside the United states
should vote in the Presidential election next November.
of the public answer t!
over 21 in the armed services
are undecided.
say " No. If
100
CAN VOT ING FOR SERVICEWIEN BE MADE POSSI
NO
YES
75%
75%
VOTE
= 95%
think voting can be made possible for most men and women stationed
oVer
eas or
on
shipboard.
are undecided.
feel that servicemen
I s voting cannot
be handled satisfactorily.
don't think soldiers should vote.
100%
The 5 per cent who think that soldiers should not vote at all were asked:
ma.in reasons given are that
do you think soldiers should not vote?" It know
the men who are running.
vicemen cannot be reached or that they won
are some typical cOTIlents:
The
The soldiers aren lt here
New Y
GiiY
and they don 't know what is going on.
Grocery clerk' s wife .
Lawyer . Chicago
I th
ink political considerations should not
be a part of army life ... and I think the mechanics of the'
thing are impractical.
The soldiers aren't here and can
keep up with what' s going on , and fo r that reason shouldn I t
Farmer' s wif ! Louisiana
be allowed to vote.
Carpenter
Colorad
get their votes
in.
They ! re too scattered.
Many couldnlt
It I s ,just my pWl conviction.
Ohio
think they would know enough about the candidates.
Writer' s wife
- 2 -
I don It
"1iVhy
ser-
Rere
___
/////
--
THE STf.TE OR FEDEP-tL QQER1!
EO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE:
c:
of
Fed ra:l
st!2
/?:!7T7T-
-Z.w.!LtLl_
Q7%
the public think
95% !Q2L
1w'"
the federal goverwnent should be in charge of
seeing that men overseas are given a chance to vote.
57%
say the state should bear the respon-
less than half as many
sibility.
aren't SDre which way is better.
think soldiers shouldnlt vote in any case.
100
BE 11J ;mLED?
HOW SHOULD THE VOTING
Federal
s.a.t
.5
58%
federal 1avi should be passed
JiLL
tJ= 95%
providing that the Army and
Navy distribute ballots to all men and women over 21 in the armed
believe a
services.
say that each state should send ballots to all servicemen and women
of voting age eligible to vote under state laws.
still aren't sure.
don't think soldiers should vote.
100
Persons who think the federal government should be responsible for getting the
ballots to the soldiers give as some of their reasons:
Shi
fitter
Brookl
To insure uniformity and equality
voting opportunity.
Elderl roomin house ke e?er
There would be uniformity
..hoenix
and less politics with national supervision -- theoretically,
at least.
J._ Illinois -- "
The federal government controls
Rural mail carrier
and marines. The commanding officer should
the army, na
have charge of making it possible for them to vote.
J,
Executive secretar
fying it. Othe
ling it.
They have the facilities for\Uist. Louis
fise there would be 48 different ways of hand-
Persons who favor state supervision of the soldier vote mention
Woman school .teache:t Pemls ylv8nia
election is run. It would be
give .the
Draftsman
Each state knows how their
a more honest
vote and would
state advantage of an elector vote.
Detroit -- !l It's within the state I
- 3
th!3se points:
S rights.
,.
"';
....
-" -..
-" " "....
..-" "
"
...
"
--
SHOULD NEGRO SERVICEMEN VOTE?
. Y
77%
= 95% v
believe that all Negroes over 21 in the armed services should
vote on the same basis as Emone else.
say II Ii'
they are
aU,wed to vote in their home states.
aren't sure.
12 .
say II No.
think no soldiers should vote.
100%
COMMENTS
Woman
THE
FRO M
New York City
ersonnel research worker
says fNo discrimination.
NORTH
M- " Ye.
The 14th Amencbent
but ii' a
Some people are prejudiced
Packing house clerk. Chicago -- !l
man is good enough to fight for his country, he should be aUowed to vote.
Yes.
Yes.
of voting just
They shouldntt bB deprived
Fire chi1f. California
because of their color. It all depends upon their intelligence. That goes
for white people ,
But there are more illiterate Negroes than whites.
too.
Wife of clerk".
Pennsylyania -- fl Yes.
They pay taxes.
Machine o
I don It know. The northern Negroes that go
. Chicag;o
our seheratqr
00:) have got sense en()ugh to
Those from the South are such
an ignQrant class they don't really knO"i for what they are voting.
vote.
Contractor's wife
state. "
.. Illinois
Shipworke ! s wife
Yes . if they are allowed to vote in their ovv
ennsylvania
COMMENT
Yes.
Louisian
they are good enough to vote.
-. H
etiled army officer & Houston , T
home. If
No.
Chain story manager . Tennessee
ligent enough to vote.
Cabinet maker . Louisiana
SOUTH
If they are good enough to fight
Only if they are allowed to vote
The Negro in my opinion is not intel-
No. ... not dO'lm South. II
Woman drUI1 store clerk f Alabama
ssippi
THE
FRO M
Sales engineer' s wife .
Farmer! s wife . Missi.
I don lt like them.
No.
No.
Not
They are too easily influenced,
Absolutely not t
.. 4 ..
WOULD DEMOCRATS OR REP1L kIC
iI.
N F:gQ
= 100%
-LLtZL/i,2i1u
! voting in the coming eleotion
l-Y/!//I/////
ONLY 21%
I SOLDlER VOTES?
of the public think that soldiers
would help one party more than the other.
':ld ma
y it
2-
diqerence
don It know.
100%
21 per cent who think the soldier vote
Of the
might have political repercussions
think it .rrould help the Democrats.
say it v(Quld help the Republicans.
aren't sure which party would benefit.
21%
PEOPLE IN GENERAL 11lll
CERTAIN ABOUT ELECTION LAWS
Fodora.l
ILI!ilj
37%
!1177J
= 100%
of the public think the federal government decides who can vote
in Presidential elections.
bBlieve the state decides.
frankly don
t t know.
TI5%
er cent Who know that the states de-
Of the 33
termine who votes
think all state laws are the same.
re different
(but
know that they'
14
of
th
can
tell
correctly
2El
how they differ).
aren It sure.
THERSFOP.E .Q.:ql.2.
knowled
why
pel'
e..(, tlnlin
in seven has reall
accurate
1'rho . can vo
in federal elections and
one of the oornerstones of a political democracy.
BUT A LARGE MAJORITY THINK ELECTION LAWS SHOULD BE UNIFORM
-= 100%
82%
think the laws about who can vote in a Presidential election
should be the same in all states.
think they should be different.
are undecided.
100%
- 5 -
,.
ONS:
, HERE ARETHF AC
91L
(In the trder of their pressntaticn in the report)
1.
Do you think that men a.nd women over
21 in the armed forces who are stationed
outside of this country sho ld be able
the
5. Do you think NegroBs over 21toinvote
armed f0rces should be allowed
or not?
to vote in the Presidential election next
November , or don It you think they should?
Yes , Should
Yes
Yes , if qualified in home state
92%
Don t t
Should pot
lrow
95%
Don't know
iO'1
6. If soldiers vote in the coming elec-
A. (If l1 Should not!! to l) Why do you
think they should not vote:
(IF " SHOULD NOT n ,
tion ,
do you think it will help one party
more than the other?
Yes
SKIP TO 6)
2. Do you think it can be made possible
for most men in the armed forces overseas
21%
Don t t
A. (It n Ye
t 0 6)
s
election every four years. Do you happen
to lrow whether federal or state governments make the laws about who can voe in
residential election?
3. Which do you think should be in charge
FeQ.eral
of seeing that men overseas are given a
state
election
Don
chance to vote in tfle coming Presidential
the federal or the state gove.rn..
It know
A. (If " State l! to 7) As fa.r as you,
know , are the laws about vat ing in
Presidential elections the s e in
57%
Don't lrow
every state or different in some
stat
s than in others?
A. Why?
Same
Different
hich one of these two plans , to give
. men and women in the aned force s a chance
to vote in the coming Presidential election , do you prefer? (HAND CARD TO RE4.
Don 't know
33%
B. (If "
SPONDENT. )
Different" to 7A)
ways are they different?
Alswers giv.en were:
Oorrect
To pass a federal law provid-
iEg for the Army and Navy
give ballots to all men and VlC)men over 2l in'fhe armed force
B. To have each state send ballots to men and ,,"\omen over 21
in the armed forces who will
laws of their state.
37%
10%
ment ?
be eligible to vote
Which one? -
7. As you know , there s a Presidential
75%
Don't know
Federal
State
know
100%
and on ships to vote in the Presidential
election next November?
Yes
77%
under the
In what
14%
Wrong or doubtful
58%
Don! t
know
No atiswer
26%
8. Do you think lavvs about who can vote
in a Presidential election should be the
same in all states or do you think tAey
shou ld be
Don't lrow
diffe rent?
Same
Different
n 't
- 6 -
82%
know
lOQf
PUBLICATIONS
The most reoent publications of the National Opinion Research Center are:
REPORTS
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11.
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1943.
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nd Salarie
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Additional
s.....-.a....
cop ie
DISTORTED MAS:
and Over
Distribution of United States Population , 21 YeaTs of
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in
color.
11
by
15
inches
Districts.
State and Metropolttan
Distribution of World Population.
F Series
11 by 15 inohes.
22 by 34 inches , bond paper.
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Comp 1 et e
1.00
set...............
1940 Presidential
Percentaf1e of Citizens in Eaoh State vo
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Rooseve1
anc!
How Each State Vo
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d in :4 Presidential ;Elections
United States Senate Party M
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1940 Election.
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in the
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..re$Ented Ameri
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n Voters in 1940.
Comparison of Repr sentation in Poll Tax ang Fr
Voting
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