CASS/CLAY COUNTY POLL RESULTS

OCTOBER 2015
HOW THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED
This poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Jacksonville,
Florida from September 29 through October 1, 2015. A total of 625 adult residents of
Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN were interviewed by telephone.
Those interviewed on land-lines were selected by the random variation of the last four
digits of telephone numbers. A cross-section of exchanges was utilized in order to
ensure an accurate reflection of the area. Those interviewed on cell phones were
selected from a list of working cell phone numbers. Quotas were assigned to reflect
adult population by county.
The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no
more than 4 percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that
the "true" figure would fall within that range if all adult residents were surveyed.

QUESTION: Do you support or oppose the continued resettlement of refugees in the

Fargo-Moorhead area?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SUPPORT
OPPOSE
UNDECIDED

28%
57%
15%

23%
62%
15%

32%
53%
15%

29%
57%
14%

25% 56% 17% 18%

58% 36% 72% 60%
17% 8% 11% 22%

(IF SUPPORT) QUESTION: What is the primary reason you support refugee resettlement
here? (NOT READ)
Humanitarian reasons
Moral or religious obligation
Add diversity to the community
Help the local economy/do jobs others wont
Other
Not Sure

58%
17%
9%
7%
5%
4%

(IF OPPOSE) QUESTION: What is the primary reason you oppose refugee resettlement
here? (NOT READ)
Not the right place/should go elsewhere
Will cost taxpayers money
Crime will increase
Will take jobs from others/reduce wages
Language barrier
Other
Not Sure

43%
24%
15%
7%
5%
2%
4%

QUESTION: Do you feel most citizens in the Fargo/Moorhead area are welcoming
refugees and other immigrants into the community or not welcoming refugees and
other immigrants?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
WELCOMING
NOT WELCOMING
NOT SURE

49%
27%
24%

45%
32%
23%

53%
22%
25%

53% 39%
24% 35%
23% 26%

49% 53% 47%

21% 26% 31%
30% 21% 22%
2

QUESTION: Do you support or oppose public funds being used for refugee resettlement
programs, such as cash assistance?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SUPPORT
OPPOSE
UNDECIDED

35%
55%
10%

26%
65%
9%

43%
46%
11%

35% 35% 64% 21% 26%

55% 54% 26% 68% 64%
10% 11% 10% 11% 10%

QUESTION: Do you believe organizations that resettle refugees, like Lutheran Social
Services, should or should not bear the most responsibility for these individuals?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SUPPORT
OPPOSE
UNDECIDED

73%
22%
5%

75%
19%
6%

72%
24%
4%

75% 67%
21% 26%
4% 7%

62% 79% 75%

33% 15% 21%
5% 6% 4%

QUESTION: If given the opportunity, do you feel states should or should not be allowed
to opt-out of refugee resettlement programs?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SHOULD
SHOULD NOT
NOT SURE

65%
23%
12%

75%
14%
11%

56%
32%
12%

66% 62%
23% 24%
11% 14%

46% 79% 66%

46% 8% 20%
8% 13% 14%

QUESTION: Do you feel refugees should or should not be required to become

naturalized citizens as part of resettlement programs?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SHOULD
SHOULD NOT
NOT SURE

77%
17%
6%

76%
20%
4%

77%
15%
8%

80% 69%
14% 25%
6% 6%

67% 87% 76%

23% 9% 19%
10% 4% 5%

QUESTION: How do you feel public schools in the area are being affected by refugee
resettlement? Would you say they are being positively affected, negatively affected or
are they not being significantly affected either way?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
NONE
NOT SURE

20%
47%
18%
15%

19%
50%
19%
12%

22%
44%
16%
18%

20%
49%
18%
13%

21%
41%
18%
20%

45% 9% 12%
21% 57% 57%
23% 15% 16%
11% 19% 15%

QUESTION: Do you feel the local police departments and resettlement agencies should
or should not be required to provide statistics on crimes committed by refugees?
REGION MEN WOMEN CASS CLAY DEM REP IND
SHOULD
SHOULD NOT
NOT SURE

82%
12%
6%

89%
8%
3%

76%
15%
9%

81% 85%
13% 9%
6%
6%

81% 83% 82%

15% 10% 11%
4%
7% 7%

DEMOGRAPHICS
PARTY IDENTIFICATION:
Democrat
Republican
Independent or Other

169 (27%)
199 (32%)
257 (41%)

POLITICAL VIEWS:
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
DK/Other/Refused (NOT READ)
AGE:

18-34
35-49
50-64
65+

INCOME:

<$25,000
$25,000-$49,999
$50,000-$74,999
$75,000-$99,999
$100,000+
Refused

SEX:

Male
Female

COUNTY:

Cass County ND
Clay County MN

143 (23%)
208 (33%)
263 (42%)
11 (2%)

133 (21%)
167 (27%)
183 (29%)
142 (23%)
44 (7%)
112 (18%)
95 (15%)
83 (13%)
99 (16%)
192 (31%)

309 (49%)
316 (52%)
450 (72%)
175 (28%)