Poll Finds Charter Expansion Opposition Has Grown

Opinions on raising the cap on Massachusetts charter schools has shifted since the start of 2016, according to at least one new survey published roughly one month before the Nov. 8 General Election, which will put a ballot question on that topic to the test.

An April poll by the Western New England University Polling Institute found 51 percent of of registered voters asked about Question 2 supported lifting the cap, while 26 percent were opposed. Of the registered voters surveyed more recently, 45 percent opposed the ballot question, and 36 percent favored it.

Additionally, the Institute's poll found that Question 2 was the one voters were most attuned to. Among likely voters, the survey found, 63 percent said they were following it "very" or "somewhat" closely.

Here Are the Massachusetts Ballot Questions for November 2016

Among likely voters, the group that most reliably predicts electoral outcomes, the Institute's latest poll found the following for each ballot initiative question...

Question 1: Licensing a second slots parlor in Massachusetts

48 percent oppose

30 percent support

21 percent undecided

Question 2: Raising the Cap on Number of Charter Schools

34 percent support

47 percent oppose

18 percent undecided

Question 3: Mandatory sizes for animal containment

61 percent support

26 percent oppose

12 percent undecided

Question 4: Legalizing recreational marijuana, for people age 21+

52 percent support

42 percent oppose

5 percent undecided

The poll out Wednesday relied on a telephone survey of 403 likely voters conducted Sept. 24 to Oct. 3.

Read the Institute's results in full.

More from Patch:

• WBUR Poll Weighs Voters' Stance on November Ballot Questions
• Poll Suggests Support for Recreational Marijuana Runs High
• Sept. 8 Was Effectively Nov. 8 for Massachusetts. That's Not Good
• See Whether Your School Committee Has Voted to Oppose Question 2
• Question 1: Slots Parlor Proposal Creates Rift in Revere

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