Survey Omits Ballot Language, Leading to Skewed Results
TAMPA, Fla., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Today's polling results on Florida Ballot Amendment 8 released by Florida Opinion Research did not utilize the formal ballot question which will appear on the ballot November 6, according to Citizens for Religious Freedom and Non-Discrimination, thus not reflecting an accurate picture of support for the amendment.
The survey asked voters:
"Would you vote for or against a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would remove the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution?"
The formal ballot question states:
"Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution providing that no individual or entity may be denied, on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding or other support, except as required by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and deleting the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."
By not clearly stating the primary purpose of the amendment, to remove discriminatory language from Florida's Constitution, the results of the survey are not surprising. In fact, decided voters favor the amendment by a two-to-one margin, according to survey research which utilized the formal ballot language in its entirety.
"Throughout our history, governments have been allowed to work alongside non-profit groups, whether religious or not, to provide those in need with community, educational and social services," said Juan Zapata, President of Citizens for Religious Freedom and Non-Discrimination. "These partnerships are at risk. Recent cases show that Florida's Constitution needs to be remedied so as not to require discrimination against individuals or religious institutions providing community services simply because they are religious."
Yes on 8
Citizens for Religious Freedom and Non-Discrimination ("Yes on 8") is focused on ending discrimination against religious organizations and preserving much-need social services through the passage of Amendment 8 for Florida's Constitution. For more information visit www.sayyeson8.com and on Facebook and Twitter @sayyeson8.
Contact:
Lesley S. Bateman
813.849.0076
mobile: 813.335.7060
Lesley@design4.org
SOURCE Yes on 8
