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For Immediate Release Oct. 26, 2009
Poll: Approve Referendum 71 maintaining slim leadElection
outcome still hinges on turnout
SEATTLE Approve Referendum 71 is maintaining its slim lead among
likely
Washington voters according to a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner(GQR)
trackingpoll commissioned by the Approve Referendum 71
campaign.
Last week, GQR polled more than 500 likely voters and found 53
percent ofthose polled supported the approved position when they
were read the
ballot language, while only 36 percent supported the rejected
position. In
September, the margin was 5144 percent.
According to GQR this shift suggests that the Approve side has
solidified its
base in recent weeks while the Reject side is losing
supporters.
"This is both goodand cautionarynews," said Approve 71 campaign
chair
Anne Levinson. "These results show that when voters understand
what the
domestic partnership law isand the many families who will be
harmed if itis repealedthey will vote to approve it.
"Yet, we also know that in an off-year election, older, more
conservative
voters turn out in greater numbers. While there is broad
statewide supportfor treating all families equally, those who vote
will determine the outcome of
this election," Levinson continued. "This poll makes a very
clear point: those
who want to ensure that legal protections aren't taken away from
gay and
lesbian families absolutelyhave to vote."
Approve 71 campaign manager Josh Friedes noted that only a
smallpercentage of voters have turned in their ballots so far.
"What our poll shows us is that if supportive voters cast their
ballots, we will
win. That's why getting fair-minded voters to cast their ballots
on time is soimportantwe're seeing ballots from less urban parts of
the state being sent
in, while voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties are not
yet mailing
their ballots in large numbers, said Friedes.
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We are also reaching out to younger voterswho often dont vote in
off-
year electionsto mail in their ballots," added Friedes. "Younger
voters couldmake a big difference since they tend to be more
supportive, and many are
not included in the poll because they are not considered likely
voters.
"We need people to spend the five minutes to fill-out the
ballot. And then we
need them to actually put a stamp on the envelopeor two stamps
if they
live in Pierce Countyand mail it.
"Basic legal protections for thousands of committed couples
hinge on this
simple act," concluded Friedes. "Our message is 'Vote now!'"
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Contact:
Sue Evans
253.592.1590
[email protected]
Josh Friedes
206.679.8546
[email protected]
