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Iowa Freedom of Information Council

September 2011 Survey of Iowans

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Methodology: SurveySample frame:

Iowa adults ages 18 and over

Sample size:

803 adults. Respondents were contacted using randomly selected landline and cell phone telephone numbers.

Weighting:

Weighted by age to reflect the general population of Iowa based on data from the 2010 United States Census.

Margin of error:

3.5 percentage points for the entire sample.

Method/length:

Telephone interviews lasting approximately 15 minutes.

Field dates: September 19th—22nd, 2011

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Knowledge of the Law

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Most Iowans know little if anything about law on open meetings and records…

A great deal; 5

A fair amount; 26

Just some; 42

Nothing at all; 27

How much do you happen to know about the law surrounding open meetings and access to

government documents?Among Iowans who have requested

documents, only 44% say they know a great deal or a fair amount.

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…but virtually all know the law is for all citizens.

To allow media access; 10

For all citizens; 85

Not sure; 5

Iowa has an open records law, allowing ac-cess to most but not all government records.

Do you think this law is to allow only the media to have access or is it for all citizens,

not just the media?

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Most value more openness than is currently practiced and welcome more opportunities for input.

More effort;

63

Prob-ably

okay; 34 Not

sure; 3

Does gov't need to put more effort into holding open meet-ings and making documents

more accessible?

Elected and appointed local, state officials

Government employees

77

60

14

30

9

10

Do you think there needs to be more openness so that media and citizens can more easily access government records, or

more protection of privacy for:

More openness More protection of privacy Not sure

Wish for

more; 56 Not

sure; 3

Ample opportunity for you, neighbors to have input into local gov’t decisions, or wish

for more opportunities for input?

Ample opportunity,

41

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Iowans show some skepticism.

Holding mtngs where decisions are made with advance notice so public can attend

Providing timely access to the media to all public documents they request

Providing timely access to ordinary citizens to all public documents they request

Disclosing campaign contributions

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

53

48

47

32

42

44

43

61

5

8

10

7

Whether government officials are abiding by the law

in given aspects of state and local govern-ment

Mostly confident Mostly skeptical

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Requests

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Most documents tested should be open, public says.

Expense reports

Candidates under consideration

Terms of contracts awarded

Proposals companies submit

How much gov't workers earn

Police dept activity logs

Mug shots of those arrested

Real estate transaction reports

Why gov't workers were disciplined

Emails of officials related to gov't work

Birth, death certificates

Disciplinary action against student athletes

Autopsy reports

Names of crime victims

0 25 50 75 100

96

90

89

88

78

74

67

66

64

63

60

58

36

32Types of government records or documents

Should be available for public and press to see

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One in three have requested government documents.

Yes; 33

No, no need or interest;

50

No, don't know what's

available to citizens;

16

Not sure; 1

Ever requested a government document and Reasons given for never requesting

Key groupsKnow great deal or fair amt about the law 47%Income $70K+

45%Metro39%Age 35-54

38%Democrats

38%Gov’t employee or official in HH38%College degree+

38%

Key groupsIncome under $30K24%No more than HS grad23%Rural 21%

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About half do not anticipate ever requesting government documents.

Yes, within next year; 12

Yes, within next five

years; 23

Yes, ever; 13

No; 45

Not sure; 7

Do you anticipate requesting any gov-ernment documents

such as the ones mentioned:

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Groups likely to request more in future than in past:

SELECTED SUBGROUPS: EVER REQUESTED ORANTICIPATE REQUESTING GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

Have Requested

in Past%

Anticipate Requesting

Within Next 5 Years

%

Difference in Percentage

Points 

All 33 35 +2

Age under 35 26 43 +17

Tea Party supporters 32 41 +9

Income under $70,000 27 34 +7

Income $70,000 and over 45 40 -5

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Iowans see fees as appropriate.

Paid by re-

quester; 62

Part of exist-ing

bud-gets;

33 Not sure; 5

Who should pay for providing copies?

Legiti-mate

way to recover costs;

57

Way to keep

secret; 34

Not sure, 9

Do you think charging these expenses is a legitimate way to recover costs, or is it more a way to attempt to keep govern-

ment documents secret?

No dif-fer-

ence; 64

Less likely;

33

Not sure; 3

Will charging make it less likely people, media will

request documents?

More likely to see as way to keep secret:Income under $30K

49%No more than HS grad 46%Age under 35 41%

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The Future for the IFOIC

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IFOIC has low profile.

A great deal; 2A fair

amount, 10

Just some; 29

Nothing at all; 58

Not sure; 1

How much do you know about the Iowa Freedom of Information Council?

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Strong majorities support IFOIC initiatives.

Give gov't offices more necessary training, resources to efficiently comply with open mtngs, open record requests

Create a board in state gov't to handle citizen complaints about violations of open mtngs, access to gov't documents

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

84

67

13

28

3

8

Changes Iowa FOI Council seeks regarding open meetings and access to government

documents

Favor Oppose Not sure

Among Republicans, 50% favor vs. 46% oppose

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Iowans see taxes paid as foundation for open access.

As a taxpayer, you have the right to know how your tax dollars are spent

In a democracy, gov't processes should be open to the public

We can trust our gov't more when we know how it works and when, where decisions are made

Open mtngs/records laws force gov't officials, employees to be accountable to public, discourage wrongdoing

Open mtngs/records laws help educate voters so they will make wise decisions

A gov't "by the people" means the people own the documents, are invited to mtngs by definition

0 25 50 75 100

70

54

54

53

52

41

Reasons for more openness, access to government meetings and records

Excellent reason

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Iowans minimally resist openness; when they do, it is to protect privacy.

Sometimes privacy needs to be protected at expense of open mtngs, access to records

Sometimes better, more efficient decisions made when officials can hash out differences in private

Some citizens abuse open mtngs, access to docs with nuisance requests

With increase of electronic records, more information created, so more expensive for offices to make copies

Gov't employees may get distracted from other aspects of their jobs by requests

0 25 50 75 100

14

10

17

6

6

52

40

31

29

22

Reasons why openness, access to government meet-ings and records

could be a problem

Excellent reason

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Summary. You now have benchmarks to move:

Knowledge of the law. Knowledge of IFOIC. Interest in access open records.

You know you have strong support for your issues.

You know what themes work best. You know something about resistance points. It will be fun to see what you can accomplish.

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Iowa Freedom of Information Council

September 2011 Survey of Iowans