CBS NEWS POLL

Race and Voting Rights: 50 Years After Selma

February 26-March 2, 2015
Q1. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

Good
Bad
Don't know/no answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
52
56
32
38
35
58
10
9
10

Dec14c
%
45
43
13

Q2. Do you think race relations in YOUR COMMUNITY are generally good or generally bad?
Good
Bad
Don't know/no answer

79
16
5

82
14
4

63
29
8

78
17
5

Q3. Some people say that since the 1960s there has been a lot of real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination
against blacks. Others say that there hasn't been much real progress for blacks over that time. Which do you agree
with more? Would you say there's been a lot of real progress getting rid of racial discrimination or hasn't there been
much real progress?

Progress
No real progress
Don't know/no answer

76
20
4

81
15
4

50
46
4

Jun14c2
78
19
2

Q4. Do you think there will always be a lot of racial prejudice and discrimination in America, or is there real hope of
ending it in the long run?

Always prejudice and discrimination

Real hope
None now (vol.)
Don't know/no answer

44
50
1
5

40
54
1
5

60
35
*
4

Mar14d
46
52
*
1

Q5. Thinking about the goals of Martin Luther King and the 1960's civil rights movement, do you think that all of their
goals have been achieved, most have been achieved, only some have been achieved, or almost none of their goals
have been achieved?

All
Most
Only some
Almost none
Don't know/no answer

6
37
51
3
4

7
38
49
1
5

2
25
67
5
*

Jun14c2
5
38
52
2
3

Q6. As you may know, the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960's to prevent state and local governments from
using rules and procedures which prevented many black people and other racial minorities from voting. Do you think
it was necessary to pass the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities were
allowed to vote, or dont you think that was necessary?

Necessary
Was not necessary
Don't know/no answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
91
91
97
6
5
3
3
4
1

Q7. Do you think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities are
allowed to vote, or do you think the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary?
Necessary today
No longer necessary
Don't know/no answer

59
35
6

55
39
6

86
13
1

Q8. In general, who do you think is more likely to encounter problems when trying to vote (white people), (black
people), or isnt there much difference?
White people
Black people
No difference
Don't know/no answer

3
27
67
3

3
21
73
3

2
57
39
2

Q9. Do you favor or oppose states requiring people to show valid photo identification before they are permitted to
vote?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/no answer

79
19
2

83
15
2

66
31
4

Q10. In recent years, some state legislatures and officials have shortened the voting hours and times available for
people to vote early or absentee. From what you may have heard, do you think such efforts are (probably an attempt
to save money for states with budget problems), or (probably an attempt to make it harder for minority and lower
income groups to vote), or haven't you heard enough about this yet to say?

To save money
23
Make it harder to for minorities to vote21
Havent heard enough to say
49
Don't know/no answer
6

26
16
52
7

12
49
38
2

Q11. In general, how widespread do you think voter fraud is in U.S. elections, such as people voting who are not
eligible to vote? Do you think this happens a lot, sometimes, not much, or not at all?

A lot
Sometimes
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/no answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
28
27
31
36
37
33
22
23
23
9
8
9
6
5
5

Q12. The 1965 Voting Rights Act had required states with low voter registration rates and a history of voter
suppression to get approval from the federal government before changing their election and voting laws. In 2013, the
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this requirement was no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree with this Supreme
Court decision, or dont you know enough to say?
Agree
Disagree
Don't know enough to say
Don't know/no answer

20
14
65
1

23
13
62
1

9
21
69
1

Q13. When you vote in elections, how much confidence do you have that your vote will be counted accurately--a lot,
some, not much, or no confidence your vote will be counted accurately?
A lot
Some
Not much
No confidence
Don't know/no answer

53
26
9
7
5

57
26
8
6
3

42
29
16
7
6

Q14. Thinking about times when you have voted or tried to vote in the past, have you ever encountered any problems
while trying to vote, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

8
88
4

7
89
3

12
83
5

Q15. Looking back, would you say Lyndon Johnson was one of America's greatest presidents, a very good president, a
good president, only a fair president, or a poor president?
Mar14d
%
One of the greatest
1
1
2
3
Very good
8
9
6
10
Good
33
34
29
34
Fair
24
24
29
26
Poor
9
9
7
7
Don't know/no answer
25
22
28
19
Q16. Do you currently have government-issued photo identification such as a driver's license or U.S. passport, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
93
94
89
7
5
11
*
1
1

Q17. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are black--none, a few, about
half, or almost all?

None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer

16
55
20
7
3

19
59
17
3
2

4
30
33
30
2

Apr09b
%
17
54
20
8
1

Q18. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are white--none, a few, about
half, or almost all?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer

3
15
31
49
2

2
9
29
59
2

7
40
31
20
3

Q19. About how many of your close friends are black --none, a few, about half, or almost all?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer

18
56
17
8
1

21
62
14
2
1

1
26
24
49
*

Q20. About how many of your close friends are white --none, a few, about half, or almost all?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer

Total Respondents
Whites
Blacks

5
22
22
49
1

Unweighted
1,207
759
315

3
12
21
63
1

11
52
27
9
*

Weighted

Margin of error
3pts

870
145

4pts
8pts