To: Tobacco Free Mass
From: Global Strategy Group
Re: Massachusetts Voter Survey Analysis
Date: March 2009

Click icon at right for full report, PDF version

KEY FINDINGS

Massachusetts voters are very concerned about young people and tobacco use, as well as smoking, in the state. There is overwhelming support for taxing other tobacco products at the same rate as cigarettes, and using the additional monies to fund programs that promote oral health and prevent tobacco use among kids, as well as programs to help current tobacco users quit. There is strong support across voter groups for taxing all tobacco products at one consistent rate.



  • Three in four Massachusetts voters (74%) are concerned about smoking and other tobacco use among young people in the state, and 42% are very concerned


  • Four in five Massachusetts voters (81%) favor taxing other tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smaller cigars at the same rate as cigarettes. Two in three (67%) strongly favor taxing other tobacco products at the same rate. Just 16% of voters oppose the idea.


    • More than two thirds of smokers (69%) favor, and 56% strongly favor, taxing all tobacco products at the same rate.


    Currently, tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smaller cigars are taxed at a lower rate than cigarettes. Would you favor or oppose taxing these other tobacco products at the same rate as cigarettes?


% Favor
Total
 81%
Men
 77
Women
 85
18-44
 82
45-64
 82
65 +
 80
Income less than $60,000
 82
Income more than $60,000
 84
Democrat
 90
Independent
 75
Republican
 73
Smoker
 69
Former Smoker
 84
Never Smoked
 85
West
 88
Mid/North
 78
Boston
 80
South
 79

  • A broad majority of voters (62%) would be more likely to vote for a candidate for state legislature in Massachusetts who supports taxing other tobacco products at the same rate as cigarettes, and 30% would be much more likely. Just 16% of voters say they would be less likely to vote for the candidate and 18% say it would make no difference in their vote.


    • Democratic voters would be the most influenced by a state legislature candidate's stance: 73% of Democratic voters, 54% of Independents and 56% of Republicans would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports taxing all tobacco products at the same rate.

    Women (67%) are more likely than men (57%) to vote for a candidate if they support taxing all tobacco products at the same rate.

  • If Massachusetts were to raise its tax on other tobacco products, three quarters of voters (75%) would favor using the money to fund programs that promote oral health and prevent tobacco use among kids, as well as programs to help current tobacco users quit.


    • While Democrats are most in favor (80%) of using the additional funds for such programs, there is also a high level of support among Independents (73%) and Republicans (69%).

    Seven in ten current smokers (70%) favor using additional revenue for programs that promote oral health and prevent tobacco use among kids, and programs to help current tobacco users quit, nearly as many as those who have never smoked (76%) and those who formerly smoked (80%).

  • Massachusetts voters oppose a variety of proposed methods to address the state's budget shortfall), but 70% favor increasing state tobacco taxes (90% oppose creating a tax on the number of miles driven tracked through a computer chip in personal vehicles, 80% oppose increasing the state income tax, 76% oppose increasing the state sales tax, 69% oppose increasing the state gasoline tax, and 61% oppose increasing tolls for travel on some roads and expressways).


    • More than two thirds of both women (71%) and men (68%) favor increasing state tobacco taxes

    Three in four voters with children under 18 (74% favor), and 68% of voters without children support increasing state tobacco taxes.

    Not surprisingly, voters who have never smoked (81%) and former smokers (71%) favor increasing the state tobacco taxes to balance the state budget, but even 45% of current smokers favor increasing the tax.

    A majority of Democrats (83%), Independents (60%), and Republicans (57%) favor increasing the state tobacco taxes

    METHODOLOGY

  • Global Strategy Group conducted a telephone survey among 502 likely Massachusetts voters from March 12 to March 15, 2009.


  • Surveys were conducted among voters from the following defined regions


    • West (counties: Worcester, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire)

    Middlesex/North Shore (counties: Middlesex, Essex)

    Boston (counties: Suffolk)

    South (counties: Norfolk, Dukes, Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable, Nantucket)

  • The margin of error at the 95% confidence level is ±4.4 % on the overall sample.


    • The margin of error is larger on sub-groups.