Environment Challenges Immigration as Top Issue in Arizona

This Rocky Mountain Poll – Arizona (2007-III-05), is based on 628 interviews with voters across Arizona, conducted between May 24th and May 29th 2007. Where necessary, figures for age, sex, race and political party were weighted to bring them into line with their actual proportion in the population. In a sample of this size, one can say with a 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3.9 percent of what they would have been had the entire voter population been surveyed. The Rocky Mountain Poll is conducted by the Behavior Research Center of Arizona and is an independent and non-partisan research program sponsored by the Center. This statement conforms to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

June 19, 2007 – When asked to identify the top issues facing Arizona today, one might reasonably expect immigration to be far ahead of all other issues. In fact, however, while immigration reform does top the list, doing more to protect Arizona’s environment is making a strong run at becoming the top issue among Arizona voters. Thus, while immigration reform is upper most in the minds of a plurality of voters (31%), environmental protection is a close second (28%). Those calling to close the borders or expel illegal immigrants registers at a much lower level (13%).

In addition to the rise in concerns about environment, the statewide poll also reveals that one of five now voluntarily identifies a corollary issue, curbing Arizona’s rate of population growth, as among the top issues facing the state. Together, environmental protection and curbing population growth may outpace all other issues, including immigration.

While some aspect of the immigration issue is mentioned most frequently as a top issue facing the state, closer examination reveals that attitudes toward immigration break into two main categories: (1) those calling for reform in federal laws and (2) those calling for tougher enforcement of existing immigration laws or closure of the border. Three of ten Arizonans are anxious that there be reform in federal immigration laws while 13 percent take the position that the US should close the borders or expel all illegal immigrants or both.

Also high on the list of top issues for voters is improving the state’s education system. Roughly one in five voters identify this as a top issue and it is an issue that is in first place among women across the state, outpacing both immigration reform and environmental problems.

Significantly lower on the list of priority issues were such things as improving the state’s transportation system; crime prevention; improving the health care system, doing something about inflation and the cost of living and finally, worries about the state of the economy.

While we notice some variations in various regions of the state, the hierarchy of issue concerns
is more or less the same in all regions as noted earlier, however, women are three times as likely as men
to mention the state’s education system as a principal concern.

For this and other polls, see www.brcpolls.com/results.