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Survey of AARP Members in Florida About Amendments 5 and 6

by Terri Guengerich, AARP Research & Strategic Analysis, AARP Research, December 2010

This and Related Reports

AARP Florida commissioned a research study to explore the opinions of its members about upcoming ballot initiatives in the November 2010 election related to legislative redistricting and voting boundaries. 

Key findings included:

  • Most AARP members in Florida support Amendment 5 — which would provide Florida legislators with guidelines to use when they redraw legislative districts for the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate; 76 percent say they support this amendment, 14 percent say they oppose it and 10 percent are not sure. The majority of members — regardless of political party affiliation — support this amendment (Democrats, 79 percent; Republicans, 75 percent; Independents, 76 percent).
  • Most AARP members in Florida support Amendment 6 — which would provide Florida legislators with guidelines to use when they redraw legislative districts for the U.S. Congress; 79 percent say they support this amendment, 12 percent say they oppose it and 8 percent are not sure. The majority of members — regardless of political party affiliation — support this amendment (Democrats, 79 percent; Republicans, 81 percent; Independents, 80 percent).
  • Nearly all AARP members in Florida agree that voting boundaries should not be drawn to favor one political party over another (95 percent) and that their vote should count the same as other votes (97 percent); 66 percent agree that boundaries for voting districts should be redrawn with guidelines from voters, and 68 percent agree that if voters had a say in the boundaries of voting districts, they would be more fair and balanced to all voters.
  • Not many members, however, have seen, heard or read anything about these amendments. Only 36 percent say they have seen, heard or read "a lot or some" about the upcoming ballot initiatives that propose changes to the Florida Constitution. Of these members who have seen, heard or read something, only 29 percent have seen, heard or read "a lot or some" specifically about amendments 5 and 6.

The survey was conducted by telephone by RDD Field Services. A total of 700 Florida residents who are members of AARP and are self-identified registered voters completed the survey between  Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 2010. For more information, please contact the author, Terri Guengerich, at 202-434-6306.