Minnesota State Senate

Senator Melissa Wiklund

Room 303 Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155
Email: sen.melissa.wiklund@senate.mn
Phone: (651) 297-8061

State Fair Poll Results

4,585 Total Respondents
Gender
Male: 49.1%
Female: 48.8%
No Answer: 2%

Residence
Minneapolis/St. Paul: 35.6%
Rural: 13%
Suburban: 45.7%
Regional Hub (Rochester,
Duluth, etc.): 4%
Another State: .9%
No Answer: .5%

Age
18-24: 6.8%
25-34: 11.9%
35-49: 15.5%
50-64: 36.1%
65 and older: 27.6%
No Answer: 1.8%

1. Which source of energy should be the states top priority in its efforts to reach carbon emission
reduction goals? (One answer, please)
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)

Wind
Solar
Hydro (water)
Geothermal (underground)
Nuclear
None of the above
Undecided/No opinion

25.6%
35.1%
4.5%
4.6%
15.6%
5.3%
8.9%

2. Should the video footage that law enforcement collects with body cameras be public or private?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Strictly private
Limited public access
Extensive public access
Undecided/No opinion

13.9%
62.1%
20.4%
3.5%

3. Should eligible Minnesota residents automatically be registered to vote when they apply for or
renew a drivers license, unless they decline?
A) Yes
B) No

70.2%
25.2%

C) Undecided/No opinion

4.5%

4. Minnesota recently added an early catch-and-release-only season that allows anglers to fish for
bass (as long as they practice catch and release) before the start of the regular bass season. Should
the state expand the catch-and-release-early seasons for other game fish species, such as walleye
and northern pike or muskellunge?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Undecided/No opinion

27.0%
40.7%
32.2%

5. Would you support legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick time for their employees?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Yes, for all employers

For employers with 21 or more employees
No
Undecided/No opinion

47.7%
23.9%
22.6%
5.6%

6. In order to graduate, should Minnesota high school students be required to pass the same civics
test that immigrants must pass before becoming U.S. citizens?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Undecided/No opinion

75.6%
16.9%
7.3%

7. Should felons voting rights be restored after they have been released from incarceration but
havent yet completed their probationary period?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Undecided/No opinion

37.8%
54.3%
7.8%

8. If Minnesota has a surplus prior to the 2016 legislative session, what should be the top priority for
its use? (One answer, please.)
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)

A rainy day fund for budget shortfalls

Make permanent tax reductions
A onetime rebate for taxpayers
Increase spending on infrastructure needs
Increase spending on education
Increase spending on other priorities
An all-of-the-above approach
Undecided/No opinion

18.6%
11.4%
9.7%
26.2%
17.1%
1.5%
14.3%
0.8%

9. If a student cannot read at grade level at the end of third grade, should the student be held back a
year?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Undecided/No opinion

59.4%
24.5%
15.9%

10. Should lead ammunition for hunting use be phased out in Minnesota?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Yes, on all land in Minnesota

Yes, but only on state/public land
No
Undecided/No opinion

63.8%
9.2%
13.2%
13.6%

11. Minnesota has significant infrastructure needs concerning the roads and bridges throughout the
state. What is the best way to pay for these projects?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)

An increase in the states gasoline tax

Collecting tolls from motorists
Payments from the General Fund
Capital investment or bonding
All of the above
A and B
C and D
Other
Undecided/No opinion

29.2%
4.2%
9.2%
7.4%
17.5%
5.5%
15.4%
6.4%
4.8%

12. Should state law requiring immunizations for children enrolled in public schools be changed to
eliminate the current exemption for personal or religious beliefs?
A) Yes, the exemption should be eliminated
B) No, the exemptions should stay the same
C) Undecided/No opinion

59.3%
34.3%
6.3%

13. What is your primary source for acquiring governmental or political information?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)

Social network sites: Twitter, Facebook, etc. 9.9%

Blog Web sites
4.3%
Newspapers (print versions)
28.1%
Newspapers (online versions)
17.4%
Television newscasts
15.6%
Radio newscasts
13.8%
Family/friends
2.5%
Newsletters, direct mailings, etc.
1.5%
Other
6.5%

14. How accessible do you find your state legislators?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Very accessible
Somewhat accessible
Not accessible
I have never tried to contact my legislator
Undecided/No opinion

23.9%
38.3%
9.9%
21.5%
6.2%