November 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Dan Ichinose, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, (213) 977-7500 x249
Gen Fujioka, Asian Law Caucus, 415-896-1701 x113
Malcolm Yeung, Asian Law Caucus, 415-896-1701, x120
STATEWIDE POLL OF ASIAN AMERICAN
VOTER OPINION ANNOUNCED
To download the full report, click here.
Asian American civil rights organizations in Los Angeles and San Francisco today announced the results of one of largest multilingual surveys of voter opinion conducted in the state. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of South California (APALC) and the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) surveyed 4,713 voters at polling places throughout Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties and the City of Oakland this past Tuesday.
“This exit poll provides valuable insights into the opinions of California’s growing Asian American electorate,” said Stewart Kwoh, Executive Director of APALC. “As one of the fastest growing populations in the state, it is important that policy makers understand the concerns and positions of Asian American communities.”
The poll sampled voter opinions on four state propositions, finding broad support in the state’s two most populous regions for Proposition 1C, the housing bond, and Proposition 1D, to increase spending on schools. Asian Americans also strongly supported increasing tobacco taxes to fund health care. The survey revealed some differences of opinion on Proposition 85, a proposal that would have required parental notification of abortions. A majority of Asian Americans voted in favor of the proposal in Los Angeles, while the proposal was supported by only a minority of Asian American voters in San Francisco and Oakland.
The poll showed Asian American voters had mixed opinions on the candidates for governor. In Los Angeles County, Asian Americans were divided over the governor’s race. In San Francisco and Oakland Asian American voters favored Phil Angelides. However, supporters of both candidates supported an agenda for expanded government support for health care, housing, and schools.
The poll surveyed voters of all races and nationalities and was conducted in nine languages. It revealed common interests amongst diverse voters. On the hotly debated immigration issue, the poll found broad and diverse support for providing a process of undocumented immigrants to become citizens. 90% of Latino, 70% of African American, and 68% of Asian American voters expressed support for a legalization program. Regarding an issue likely to appear in upcoming state elections, Asian American voters also showed support for same-sex marriages. 51% of Asian American voters in Los Angeles stated they opposed a continued ban on same-sex marriages, while 68% of Asian Americans in San Francisco and 72% in Oakland expressed a similar opinion. On another likely future ballot topic, 80% Asian Americans in all regions expressed strong support for increasing racial diversity in public education.
“Amidst our diversity of languages and communities, this poll shows that Asian Americans in both Northern and Southern California share many values and concerns,” said Gen Fujioka, Director of Programs for the Asian Law Caucus. “The poll shows support for an agenda to improve public schools, housing, and health care and a desire to build a more inclusive society. This poll offers us the elements of a policy agenda for the up coming year.”
Download Accompanying Data Table
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Exit Polls Shows that Asian Voters Used Ranked Choice Voting
Extensively in San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Race
A District 4 exit poll on ranked choice voting shows that Asian voters favor, understand, and used ranked choice voting in last Tuesday’s election. In the tightest supervisor race in the city, Asian’s use of ranked choice voting may be enough to lift candidate Ed Jew over candidate Ron Dudum, the current leader in the race by a little over 300 votes.
The exit poll, run by the non-profit organization Asian Law Caucus, covered six precincts in district 4 and used a survey that replicated the district 4 candidate ballot. The poll showed that Asians overwhelmingly favored ranked choice voting with 66% of Asian voters finding it helpful, compared to just 57% of non-Asian voters. 82% of Asians compared to 84% of non-Asians took advantage of ranked choice voting by selecting two or three separate candidates on their ballot. “Taken together, this exit poll shows that Asians not only favor ranked choice voting but that they know how and actually use ranked choice voting effectively,” says Yeung. The Asian Law Caucus’ poll showed Jew easily coming out on top among Asians, taking 44% of the vote versus 21% for Jaynry Mak, 17% for Doug Chan, and 16% for Ron Dudum. Of those Asians that voted for Mak and Chan as their first choice, Jew was the favorite as their second choice. Jew garnered 61% and 44% of Mak and Chan’s second choice votes.
Malcolm Yeung, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus, suggests that Jews’ success shows possible backlash by Asian voters against negative campaigning. Yeung noted that Jew did not receive the same support among non-Asians who may not have been exposed to the negative campaigning in this race. Only 16% of non-Asians selected Jew as their first choice versus 33% for Dudum and 29% for Mak.
Yeung also points out that ranked choice voting will further amplify the impact of negative campaigning. “Chan and Mak supporters avoided the other candidate as their second choice and went for Jew instead,” says Yeung. The possible Asian backlash against negative campaigning may be enough to propel Jew ahead of Dudum once all of the ranked choice votes are counted.