Key Findings from a Statewide Survey of Wyoming Voters October 2018 Lori Weigel #181147
Partners Involved 2
Methodology • A statewide survey of 600 registered voters throughout Wyoming conducted on both landline and cell phones. • Survey conducted October 9-13, 2018. • Statistically valid sample with margin of sampling error +4.0 at the 95% confidence interval for the total sample; margins of error for sub-groups will vary. • Comparisons are made to similarly conducted surveys from 2007 and 2014. 3
Two- thirds of the state’s voters identify as either a hunter or an angler, far above national rates. Wyoming National Hunters Anglers 55% Very 4
Wyoming residents also say that they engage in outdoor recreation at far higher rates than voters nationally. Wyoming National 60% 60% 42% 42% Camping 58% 58% 49% 49% Hiking 48% 48% 30% 30% Bird watching and viewing wildlife 34% 34% 15% 15% Riding an off-road vehicle or snowmobile 30% 30% 30% 30% Boating 20% 20% 12% 12% Mountain biking 5
Conservation Issues in Mix of Wyoming Concerns
A majority say conservation issues are of primary importance; nine-in-ten say at least somewhat important. Importance of Conservation Issues in Support for Elected Official +82% 91% Compared to other issues like the economy, health care and education, how 55% important are issues Very Important, involving public lands, A Primary Factor waters, and wildlife for 9% you in deciding whether to support an Total Not Important Not at all Important elected public official? Total Important Very Important 7
Voters across party lines view conservation issues as very important in their assessment of elected officials. +82% +82% +92% +74% 96% 91% 91% 87% 57% 55% 54% 54% 13% 9% 9% 4% Overall Republicans Independents Democrats (68%) (12%) (19%) Very/Primary Importance Total Important Not at all Important Total Not Important Compared to other issues like the economy, health care and education, how important are issues involving public lands, waters, and wildlife for you in deciding whether to support an elected public official? 8
Rural voters are the most likely to say conservation issues are of primary importance to them. +82% +81% +83% +82% 91% 91% 91% 90% 63% 55% 51% 49% 9% 9% 9% 8% Overall City/Suburb Small Town Rural (21%) (44%) (34%) Very/Primary Importance Total Important Not at all Important Total Not Important Compared to other issues like the economy, health care and education, how important are issues involving public lands, waters, and wildlife for you in deciding whether to support an elected public official? 9
Some conservation issues are on par with jobs. Extremely/Very Serious Total Serious Items Ranked by Extremely/Very Serious Quality of public education for K-12 students* 57% 80% 77% 49% A lack of health insurance coverage^ 82% 43% A lack of good-paying jobs^ 76% 42% Availability of water for farming and ranching* 82% 41% Loss of family farms and ranches* 77% Pollution of rivers, lakes and streams* 41% 75% Decline in numbers of big game animals, such as moose and mule deer* 41% 78% 40% Low level of water in rivers* 73% Loss of habitat for fish and wildlife^ 40% Natural areas and ranchlands being split up by new housing and 72% 35% commercial development* 65% Natural areas and ranchlands being split up by oil and gas development^ 34% 62% The impact of oil and gas drilling on our land, air and water* 32% 60% Availability of water for wildlife and recreation^ 29% 65% Unplanned growth and development^ 25% 59% Loss of the rural character of Wyoming’s communities^ 23% Split sample: *Represents N=306 respondents ^Represents N=294 respondents I’m going to read you a list of issues some people have told me are problems in Wyoming while others may not be. After I rea d each one, please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not a problem in Wyoming. 10
Conservation concerns increased in last four years. 2014 2018 Net %Extremely/Very %Extremely/Very Difference Conservation Issues Ranked by Net Difference Serious Serious 18% 18% 41% 41% +2 +23% 3% Pollution of rivers, lakes and streams* 24% 24% 40% 40% +1 +16% 6% Loss of habitat for fish and wildlife^ 16% 16% 29% 29% +1 +13% 3% Availability of water for wildlife and recreation^ 31% 31% 41% 41% +10% +1 0% Decline in numbers of big game animals, such as moose and mule deer* 24% 24% 34% 34% +1 +10% 0% Natural areas and ranchlands being split up by oil and gas development^ 22% 22% 32% 32% +10% +1 0% The impact of oil and gas drilling on our land, air and water* 34% 34% 42% 42% +8% +8 Availability of water for farming and ranching* 27% 27% 35% 35% +8 +8% Natural areas and ranchlands being split up by new housing and commercial development* 35% 35% 41% 41% +6% +6 Loss of family farms and ranches* Split sample: *Represents N=306 respondents ^Represents N=294 respondents I’m going to read you a list of issues some people have told me are problems in Wyoming while others may not be. After I rea d each one, please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not a problem in Wyoming. 11
Concerns about threats to farms and ranchlands are on par with health care and the economy. Extremely/Very Serious Total Serious Items Ranked by 2018 Extremely/Very Serious 30% 63% Feb 2014 Quality of public education for K-12 57% 80% students* Oct 2018 May 2007 53% 82% 38% 63% A lack of health insurance coverage^ Feb 2014 49% 77% Oct 2018 May 2007 31% 57% A lack of good-paying jobs^ Feb 2014 28% 70% 43% 82% Oct 2018 57% 85% May 2007 Availability of water for farming and 34% 72% Feb 2014 ranching* 42% 76% Oct 2018 47% 74% May 2007 Loss of family farms and ranches* 35% 76% Feb 2014 41% 82% Oct 2018 Split sample: *Represents N=306 respondents ^Represents N=294 respondents I’m going to read you a list of issues some people have told me are problems in Wyoming while others may not be. After I rea d each one, please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not a problem in Wyoming. 12
Concerns about water and wildlife have increased. Extremely/Very Serious Total Serious Items Ranked by 2018 Extremely/Very Serious May 2007 20% 60% Pollution of rivers, lakes and streams* 18% 62% Feb 2014 41% 75% Oct 2018 32% 63% May 2007 Decline in numbers of big game animals, 31% 66% Feb 2014 such as moose and mule deer* 41% 75% Oct 2018 40% 78% Low level of water in rivers* Oct 2018 28% 63% May 2007 24% 58% Loss of habitat for fish and wildlife^ Feb 2014 40% 73% Oct 2018 May 2007 44% 78% Natural areas and ranchlands being split up by new housing and commercial 27% 66% Feb 2014 development^ 35% 72% Oct 2018 Split sample: *Represents N=306 respondents ^Represents N=294 respondents I’m going to read you a list of issues some people have told me are problems in Wyoming while others may not be. After I rea d each one, please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not a problem in Wyoming. 13
Impacts of development are in a lower tier of concerns. Extremely/Very Serious Total Serious Items Ranked by 2018 Extremely/Very Serious May 2007 31% 68% Natural areas and ranchlands being split 24% 62% Feb 2014 up by oil and gas development^ 34% 65% Oct 2018 22% 50% The impact of oil and gas drilling on our Feb 2014 32% 62% land, air and water* Oct 2018 40% 74% May 2007 Availability of water for wildlife and 16% 49% Feb 2014 recreation^ 29% 60% Oct 2018 31% 67% May 2007 17% 59% Unplanned growth and development^ Feb 2014 25% 65% Oct 2018 28% 63% May 2007 Loss of the rural character of Wyoming’s 16% 49% Feb 2014 communities^ 23% 59% Oct 2018 Split sample: *Represents N=306 respondents ^Represents N=294 respondents I’m going to read you a list of issues some people have told me are problems in Wyoming while others may not be. After I rea d each one, please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not a problem in Wyoming. 14
Significant Support for Conservation Funding
Wyoming voters have consistently supported increased investments in conservation. In general would you favor or oppose setting aside more state money to protect land, air, water, wildlife habitat and ranchlands in Wyoming? +52% +34% +47% 74% 71% 65% 31% 24% 22% 45% 34% 41% Str. Str. Str. May 2007 February 2014 October 2018 Total Favor Total Oppose 16
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