After completing over 14,600 interviews through 23 polls, leading pollsters debunked common environmental myths, concluding that clean air and water are salient issues heading into the November elections. After a year of researching public opinion, it's clear that voters across the country care deeply about clean water and clean air and will factor these issues into their voting decisions. Clean air and water rank as top tier concerns that are important to voting decisions. Voters rate clean air and water on par with other top tier political concerns like education, crime and drugs and health care, and generally above taxes and Medicare and Social Security. In addition, in every state polled, a strong majority of voters responded that clean air, clean water and open space were important factors in their voting decision.
Voters rank clean air and water in the top tier with education and health care.
The public thinks that environmental laws go too far. Voters overwhelmingly support stricter enforcement of environmental laws or stronger laws. Very few voters believe environmental laws should be weakened. In every state polled, at least 40 percent of voters called for stronger enforcement of existing laws. Voters believe we must choose between a clean environment and a strong economy.