Publication date: October 3, 2022
Written by: Sarah Coffey
The Center for Excellence in Polling recently surveyed likely voters on important issues facing the nation, asking the same questions as our Quarter 2 Tracking Poll.
Results indicate that, just as in the second quarter, voters still support work over expanding welfare. More voters are supportive of concentrating power at the state level, and there continues to be a dissatisfaction with the status quo as midterm elections approach.
Work requirements are still popular
Requiring able-bodied adults to work, train, or volunteer part time as a condition of eligibility for food stamps is still popular among voters of all political stripes—nearly two-thirds of all likely voters support work requirements in welfare (65%). Notably, compared to the second quarter, more Democrats now support work requirements in welfare (55%).
When it comes to expanding welfare programs, sentiments among voters are largely the same as in July of this year—a majority of voters think fraud exists in welfare programs (62%) and a majority agree that there is not a general need to expand welfare programs (51%).
Support for state-level power increased over the summer
In CEP’s first quarter tracking poll, a plurality of voters said that legislative power should be concentrated at the state level. Support for concentrating power at the state level jumped in the second quarter, and now a majority continues to agree (52%).
There’s still dissatisfaction with the status quo
Midterm elections are fast-approaching, and voters are clearly still dissatisfied with the status quo:
- Nearly half of all likely voters say they disapprove of the job their state legislature is doing (44%).
- A plurality say they disapprove of the job the U.S. House of Representatives is doing (48%), with a majority saying they disapprove of the U.S. Senate (61%).
- Nearly half of all likely voters say they disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as president (49%).
Bottom line
Voter opinions on welfare and concentrating power at the state level are similar to those of last quarter. Meanwhile, a majority of likely voters are still dissatisfied with their elected leaders both in the states and in Washington, D.C.