2006-10-26-皮尤-Lack_of_Competition_in_Elections_Fails_to_Stir_Public_12页_42kb

Summary of 2006 Pew Research Center Survey on Redistricting and Electoral Competition

Introduction

The 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center, in association with the Brookings Institution and Cato Institute, examines public awareness of redistricting debates and perceptions of electoral competition in US elections. Most respondents reported low awareness of the redistricting process, with only 10% saying they had heard "a lot" about it.

Key Findings

• Lack of Redistricting Awareness: Only a small percentage of Americans (10%) are highly aware of the debate over how legislative districts are redrawn; the majority (51%) claim no awareness.

• Electoral Competition Perception: Voters are somewhat aware of competition in statewide races but less informed about House elections. However, many mistakenly believe even non-competitive House races are close contests.

• Downsides to Competition: A majority (62%) of respondents believe electoral competition causes politicians to focus too much on campaigning and fundraising, rather than representing their districts effectively. Democrats and Republicans express varied satisfaction with electoral choices, with independents more likely to desire alternatives.

• Dissatisfaction with Redistricting: Among those dissatisfied, concerns center on gerrymandering (32%), partisan outcomes, and incumbent protection. Most respondents lack clear knowledge of who controls redistricting in their states.

• Impact of Competition: When faced with tough reelection races, most believe competition leads to excessive focus on campaigns, with fewer thinking it makes politicians work harder (22%).

Methodology

Conducted via telephone interviews with 2,006 adults in October 2006, with a sampling error margin. Results are based on a nationwide sample and specific oversampling in competitive districts.