Women Voters Ages 50+ and the 2016 Election: Thoughts on Social Security and the Presidential Candidates Annotated Questionnaire for Full Sample of 1500 Women Ages 50+ Across 15 Battleground States* (AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, MI, MN, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, VA, and WI) Please note that all results shown are percentages. Northeast... 12 Midwest... 33 South... 42 West... 13 Q1. Before we begin, I need to know if I have reached you on a cell phone, and if so, are you in a place where you can talk safely? [IF NOT ON A CELL PHONE, ASK:] Do you own a cell phone? Yes, cell and can talk safely.... 36 Yes, cell and cannot talk safely.... 0 No, not on cell, but own one.... 53 No, not on cell and do not own one.... 11 Don't know /refused.... 0 Q2. In addition to your cell phone, do you also have a regular landline telephone service in your home? Yes.... 84 No.... 16 (don't know).... 0 (refused).... 0 Q3. What is your age? [TERMINATE UNDER 50] Q4. [IF AGE IS REFUSED]: I am going to read you some categories. Please stop me when we get to your category. 18-49 years [TERMINATE]. 50-54 years.... 17 55-59 years.... 19 60-64 years.... 17 65-69 years.... 16 70-74 years.... 11 75 and over.... 20 (refused/don't know) [TERMINATE]. *This annotated questionnaire displays results for selected survey questions related to the presidential candidates and to Social Security. The complete results from the survey will be released in September 2016. Prepared by Lake Research Partners & American Viewpoint for AARP
Q5. If the election for President were held today, for whom would you vote [ROTATE] _Democrat Hillary Clinton, _Republican Donald Trump, _Libertarian Gary Johnson, or are you undecided? [IF UNDECIDED] Well toward which candidate do you lean? [IF CANDIDATE] Would you say you support that candidate strongly or not so strongly? Clinton - strongly.... 40 Clinton- not so strongly.... 4 undecided - lean Clinton.... 4 Trump - strongly.... 26 Trump - not so strongly.... 3 Undecided - lean Trump.... 3 Johnson - strongly.... 2 Johnson - not so strongly.... 1 Undecided - lean Johnson.... 1 Undecided.... 13 (Will Not Vote).... 0 (Other candidate).... 1 (Jill Stein, Green Party).... 0 (refused).... 2 Clinton... 48 Trump... 33 Johnson... 3
Q6. And if the election for US Congress were held today, for whom would you vote [ROTATE] _the Democratic candidate or _the Republican candidate, or are you undecided? [IF UNDECIDED] Well toward which candidate do you lean? [IF CANDIDATE] Would you say you support that candidate strongly or not so strongly? Democratic- strongly.... 40 Democratic - not-so-strongly.... 3 Undecided - lean Democratic.... 3 Undecided.... 16 Undecided - lean Republican.... 3 Republican - not-so-strongly.... 6 Republican - strongly.... 27 (Other candidate).... 1 (refused).... 2 Democratic... 47 Republican... 36 Now for something slightly different. [ROTATE NEXT TWO QUESTIONS] Q7. Thinking about the election, have you seen or heard anything from Donald Trump about his plans for Social Security? Yes, seen.... 5 Yes, heard.... 7 Yes, both.... 8 Yes, combined... 20 No, neither.... 78 (don't know).... 3 Q8. Thinking about the election, have you seen or heard anything from Hillary Clinton about her plans for Social Security? Yes, seen.... 8 Yes, heard.... 11 Yes, both.... 15 Yes, combined... 34 No, neither.... 64 (don't know).... 3
Q9. Who do you think would do a better job addressing Social Security and keeping it strong [ROTATE] _Donald Trump or _Hillary Clinton? [If answer, ask: is that much or somewhat better?] Much better Trump.... 28 Somewhat better Trump.... 6 Somewhat better Clinton.... 12 Much better Clinton.... 40 (don't know).... 14 Trump... 34 Clinton... 52 Q10. How confident are you that Social Security will be there for you and for future generations - very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all? Very confident.... 16 Somewhat confident.... 39 Not too confident.... 29 Not confident at all.... 12 (don't know).... 4 Confident... 55 Not confident... 42 Q11. Do you favor or oppose a proposal to give credit when it comes to calculating Social Security benefits to people for the time they take away from work to care for parents, spouses, children, or other relatives? [IF CHOICE] And do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Favor - strongly.... 48 Favor - not so strongly.... 19 Oppose - not so strongly.... 8 Oppose - strongly.... 11 (don't know/refused).... 15 Favor... 67 Oppose... 19 Q12. If there are no changes to Social Security, then benefits for the average person will be cut by nearly 25 percent beginning in 2034. How much would that impact you - a lot, some, not too much, or not at all? A lot.... 32 Some.... 21 Not too much.... 13 Not at all.... 29 (don't know).... 4 A lot /Some... 53 Not too much /Not at all... 43
Q13. Knowing that benefits will be reduced by nearly 25% after 2034, how quickly do you think the next President and congress need to address this? Immediately.... 72 Within the next 5 years.... 20 Between 5 and 10 years.... 4 More than 10 years from now.... 2 (don't know/refused).... 3 Thank you. The few remaining questions are for statistical purposes only. Q14. Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent or something else? [IF REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT:] Do you consider yourself a strong or a not-so-strong (Republican/Democrat)? [IF INDEPENDENT:] Would you say you lean more towards the Republicans or more towards the Democrats? Strong Democrat.... 37 Not-so-strong Democrat.... 5 Independent - lean Democrat.... 6 Democrat... 47 Independent.... 14 Republican... 37 Independent - lean Republican.... 6 Not-so-strong Republican.... 6 Strong Republican.... 26 (Other).... 1 (Don't know).... 0
Q15. What is the last year of schooling that you have completed? 1-11th Grade.... 3 High School Graduate.... 23 Non-College Post H.S.... 3 Some College.... 28 College Graduate.... 28 Post-Graduate School.... 14 Q16. Are you married, unmarried with a partner, single, separated, divorced, or widowed? Married.... 63 Unmarried with Partner.... 1 Single, never married.... 6 Separated.... 1 Divorced.... 9 Widowed.... 18 (Don't Know).... 0 (Refused).... 2 Q17. Do you have any children under the age of 18 living at home with you? Yes.... 8 No.... 91 (Refused).... 0 Q18. Do you have any grandchildren age 18 or younger? Yes.... 45 No.... 54 (Don't Know).... 1 Q19. Are any of your parents or in-laws alive today? Yes - parents.... 33 Yes - in-laws.... 21 No.... 58 Q20. What's your employment status? Are you. [READ OPTIONS]? Employed full time.... 28 Employed part time.... 9 Unemployed and looking for work.... 2 Homemaker.... 5 Retired and not working.... 55
Q21. [ASK IF Q20=1, 2, 3, 4, or 6] At what age do you think you will retire? [Record age verbatim] Mean... 66 Median... 65 50 64... 22 65... 24 66 70... 28 71 & over... 10 (Don t know /Refused)... 17 Q22. When you retire or get to the age of retirement do you see yourself staying in your home, moving into a retirement community, moving in with family, moving in with a friend, or something else? Circle all that apply Staying in home... 83 Retirement community... 7 Family... 4 Friend... 0 Something else... 5 (Don't know)... 3 Q23. Do you personally collect Social Security benefits? [If yes: Are those retirement benefits, disability benefits, or survivor benefits?] Select all that apply Yes, retirement benefits.... 46 Yes, disability benefits.... 6 Yes, survivor benefits.... 3 Yes, but not sure which ones.... 2 Yes. Combined... 54 No, do not collect benefits.... 44 (don't know).... 2
Q24. Which of the following best describes your annual household income, before taxes? Q25. [IF REFUSED OR DON'T KNOW] Could you tell me if your annual household income is below or above 50 thousand dollars? Less than $15,000.... 6 $15,000 to $24,999.... 8 $25,000 to $34,999.... 11 $35,000 to $49,999.... 12 $50,000 to $74,999.... 13 $75,000 to $99,999.... 9 $100,000 to $124,999.... 5 $125,000 to $149,999.... 2 $150,000 or more.... 4 I prefer not to answer.... 29 Below 50 Thousand.... 46 Above 50 Thousand.... 41 (Don't Know).... 1 (Refused).... 12 Q26. Are you or your spouse currently a member of A-A-R-P? Yes.... 41 No.... 56 (Don't know).... 2 Q27. Just to make sure we have a representative sample, could you please tell me whether you are from a Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish-speaking background? [IF NO, ASK:] What is your race - white, black, Asian, or something else? White.... 80 Black/African American.... 10 Spanish speaking/latino (Puerto Rican, Mexican, etc.). 5 Asian.... 0 Native American.... 1 Pacific Islander.... 0 Arab American.... 0 (Other).... 2 (Don't know / Refused).... 2