Poll Results: Residents Oppose Tolls and More Casinos; Support Legalizing Pot and Assisted Suicide

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducted a survey that hits on several hot topics in the state including tolls, casinos, legalizing marijuana and assisted suicide.

Casinos

The state legislature is in the midst of crafting a proposal that would allow the state’s two Native American tribes to open smaller casinos near the New York and Massachusetts borders in order to stem competition.

Voters say 62 to 29 percent that gambling as it exists is good for the state. However, voters surveyed said 75 to 20 percent that there should be no more casinos in the state.

Those surveyed were more receptive to the limited proposal being considered by the legislature with 59 percent opposing and 36 percent in favor. Voters 18 to 34-years-old were 54 percent in favor of the proposal and 46 percent against.

“Voters think gambling in Connecticut is good for the state, but they don’t want more casinos. Three quarters oppose more casinos in general and nearly 60 percent oppose specific legislation to allow two Native-American tribes to open new smaller casinos,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

Legalizing marijuana and changing drug laws

Voters supported legalizing small amounts of marijuana for personal use by a margin of 63 to 34 percent.

They also support making possession of illegal drugs a misdemeanor instead of a felony by 67 to 28 percent.

Voters were especially supportive of a proposal to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, and allow judges to decide sentences on a case-by-case basis. The margin was 82 to 15 percent.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has proposed the “Second Chance Society,” which would change possession to a misdemeanor charge and do away with mandatory minimums for simple possession charges.

Similar programs are being implemented or considered in several other states, both those that are typically conservative and liberal.

Assisted suicide

Voters support 63 to 31 percent allowing doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients to end their lives. Support was across party, age, gender lines and those 55-years-old and older supported it 59 to 34 percent.

Tolls

Background on tolls here.

The poll found that 61 percent of voters oppose putting tolls on state highways and 36 support it. The findings were across all state, age and gender groups.

Voters support tolls 59 to 40 percent if the money collected goes toward repairing state roads and bridges.

Gov. Dannel Malloy support

Read about Malloy’s budget proposal here.

The poll found 47 percent of people disapprove of the way the Malloy is handling his job as governor and 43 percent approved.

His approval rating was 48 percent in a May 9 survey.

Republicans disapprove of Malloy 78 percent to 17 percent, independents disapprove 54 to 36 percent and Democrats approve 64 to 22 percent.

“Gov. Dannel Malloy starts his second term in the hole. It is the first time he has been in negative territory since a June 2012 poll,” Schwartz said.

Voters said that the top priority for Malloy and the state legislature should be economy and jobs while 18 percent said it should be taxes.

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Image via Brad Bedard/ Flickr Commons