New poll shows Mississippi voters support ESA expansion

A new poll released today shows that Mississippians throughout the state continue to support school choice opportunities and want to see these options available to all students.

According to the poll, 77 percent of voters support giving parents the right to use the tax dollars associated with their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.

The poll also found that voters overwhelmingly support the Special Needs ESA, want to see it expanded to all students, and they would be more likely to support a candidate who voted for the expansion.

Poll findings:

• 77 percent support school choice when they were told “school choice gives parents the right to use tax dollars associated with their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” Just 18 percent oppose school choice.
• Specifically, 84 percent of Republicans support school choice.
• Two years ago, voters were asked the same question and 78 percent of voters favored school choice showing support for school choice remains solid at almost four out of five voters.
• 82 percent support the current Special Needs ESA when read a description of the program compared to 10 percent who said they oppose it.
• Support for this program is universal regardless of age, race, gender, geographic location, or political affiliation.
• When asked about expanding the program to all students, 65 percent said they support the expansion compared to just 24 percent who said they oppose it.
• Support for the expansion is strongest amongst those most likely to benefit from the expansion; including 85 percent of those age 18-24 and 75 percent of those age 34-49.
• This is the first question on a specific expansion, but previous polling found 58 percent believe the ESA should be available to all students.
• 62 percent said they would be more likely to support a candidate who voted for the expansion compared to just 24 percent who said they would be less likely.

Empower Mississippi commissioned this poll of statewide voters that ran on December 13 and December 14, 2017. The poll was conducted by Cygnal. This was a survey of 503 likely voters; 66 percent landline/ 34 percent cellphone. The margin of error for the survey was +/- 4.37 percent.

To view the full poll results, please click here.