Buckeye Institute Poll: More Ohioans Oppose VLT Issue Than Support It

By Brandon S. Lynaugh, posted November 20, 2003

PRESS RELEASE

Buckeye Institute Poll: More Ohioans Oppose VLT Issue Than Support It

(COLUMBUS) — In a recent survey of likely voters, 49% of respondents said they oppose amending the state constitution to allow for the installation of VLT's in Ohio racetracks.  47% were in favor with only 4% unsure. 

When asked whether their support or opposition would change if they knew the money would benefit college scholarships or tax relief, few changed their response.  50% oppose the constitutional amendment if the money would benefit college scholarships and 49% oppose it if there revenue was used for tax relief.   When asked if they would support it if they knew that the revenue would benefit both scholarships and tax relief, 53% opposed it.

The Buckeye Institute contracted with the Tarrance Group, a DC area polling firm to conduct this poll of 603 likely voters.  The poll was conducted on November 9^th and 10^th.   A more detailed breakdown of poll results can be downloaded at http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/.

Respondents were asked whether their legislator's support of allowing electronic slot machines would impact their likelihood of supporting that legislator.  46% responded that they would be less likely to support their legislator, 41% responded more likely, with 9% no difference and 5% unsure.

The poll then asked whether knowing the following statements about the VLT proposal would make the respondent more or less likely to support VLTs in racetracks.

• 52% responded they would be more likely to support the proposal knowing that it would generate $550 million in tax revenue to fund the college scholarship program or to fund tax relief.
• 56% responded the would be less likely to support the proposal knowing that it would make it legally possible for land-based Indian casinos to open in several locations of the state.
• 77% responded they would be less likely to support the proposal knowing that 40% of the revenue would be given to the owners of horse racetracks.
• 71% responded they would be less likely to support the proposal knowing that the revenue would not go to solve the current budget crisis.
• 78% responded they would be less likely to support the proposal knowing that the state would pay up to $80 million for replacing, operating and advertising electronic slot machines at privately owned horse racetracks.

At the end of the questions regarding the VLT proposal, respondents were asked again whether they favored or opposed amending the constitution to allow for VLTs at racetracks.  54% opposed.  42% favored. 4% unsure.

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The Buckeye Institute is a Columbus based, non-profit, non-partisan research and education organization of Ohio professors and scholars.   For more information on the Buckeye Institute, visit http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/.