5TH EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
Texas Voter Poll
Texas voters across party lines support a roadmap for future state action in fundamental
areas including education, workforce, health care, and public safety.
1,000
Registered Texas voters
Sept. 6 — 11
2022
±3.1%
Margin of error
Baselice & Associates
Conducted by
Texas voters are increasingly concerned about the state’s future, but their support for solutions on core-governance issues offers leaders a roadmap for strengthening voter confidence and moving Texas forward.
That’s the far-reaching conclusion of Texas 2036’s fifth Texas Voter Poll, conducted in early February by Baselice & Associates for Texas 2036, a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy organization.
KEY FINDINGS
A Roadmap To a Bright Future
The State of Texas has a $27 billion general revenue budget surplus. Please (Phone: tell me / Web: indicate) what percentage of these funds you would apply to public school education, workforce training, water infrastructure, paying down debt and liabilities, property tax reduction, high speed internet access, and the electricity grid until no money remains. To start, what percent would you apply to…
93%
Expressed concern about the future of Texas.
51%
Support increasing pay to attract talent for all state government positions.
42%
Feel worse off financially than they were at the same time last year.
Margaret Spellings
President and CEO, Texas 2036
“Across party lines, there is clear civic demand for state action on crucial issues. This poll presents a clear roadmap for addressing the priorities we all share — a roadmap to a bright future for all Texans.“
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS
Education
Two-thirds of Texans (66%) do not think young people currently graduating from high school are prepared to get a good job and earn a self-sufficient wage without additional education. 63% said Texas public high schools’ main goal should be to ensure that students are prepared for both college and to be able to get a good-paying job.
Do you think young people who are currently graduating high school are prepared to get a good job and earn a self-sufficient wage without additional education?
Healthcare
Nearly a third of Texas voters (31%) — and almost half of mothers with kids (49%) — said they or someone in their household had postponed or skipped medical treatment in recent years because they didn’t know what the costs might be. The figure was also high among Texans under 55 (41%).
Have you or someone in your household postponed or skipped any medical treatment or surgery in recent years because you didn’t know what the final medical costs might be?
Justice & Safety
Texas voters express widespread support for reforms that would increase transparency into police hiring and address the rehiring of officers fired from other jurisdictions. 83% of voters said it would increase their confidence in law enforcement if lawmakers made it harder to rehire law enforcement officers who were previously fired for poor conduct; 57% said it would increase their confidence “a lot.”
Please (Phone: tell me / Web: indicate) if each of the following policy options would increase your confidence in law enforcement a lot, somewhat, or not at all.
Natural Resources
84% of Texas voters support the creation of a fund to support the state’s aging infrastructure, and 82% agree that the state should increase investments to expand water supplies.
Historically, the state’s investment in water has focused on increasing water supplies. Given aging and depreciating water infrastructure needs across the state, do you favor or oppose the Texas legislature creating a fund to help update the aging infrastructure too?
METHODOLOGY
How the Poll Was Conducted
Baselice & Associates conducted the survey of 1,000 registered Texas voters from September 6-11, 2022.
The poll carries a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Due to rounding, percentages on charts may not add up to 100%.
Respondents were reached through three collection methods to ensure a representative sample of the Texas electorate.
Phone: 49%
Web: 34%
SMS: 17%
ARCHIVE
Previous Texas Voter Polls
Each edition captures a snapshot of Texas voters’ priorities at a distinct moment in the state’s history.
7TH EDITION
AUGUST 2023
Affordability and Workforce Top Voter Concerns
Rising housing costs and workforce readiness emerged as dominant themes. Voters across party lines backed investment in technical education and job training.
Issues: Education, Energy, Health Care, Property Insurance
6TH EDITION
FEBRUARY 2023
Voters see budget surplus as opportunity to tackle long-term issues
Texas voters indicate strong support for using budget surplus to increase public education and water infrastructure funding along with lowering property taxes.
Issues: Education, Water, Cybersecurity, Property Insurance, State Parks
5TH EDITION
SEPTEMBER 2022
Voters outline a roadmap to a bright future
Texas voters are increasingly concerned about the state’s future, but their support for solutions on core-governance issues offers leaders a roadmap for strengthening voter confidence and moving Texas forward.
Issues: Economy, Government Performance, Education, Workforce, Criminal Justice, Infrastructure
4TH EDITION
JANUARY 2022
Post-Uri: Water and resilience in focus
A year after Winter Storm Uri knocked out electricity and water across Texas, a new poll shows most voters share deep concerns about extreme weather, and they support an expanded approach to the state’s economic future and infrastructure challenges.
Issues: Economy, Education, Energy, Health Care, Government Performance
3RD EDITION
SEPTEMBER 2021
Voters look for long-term solutions
Texas voters are increasingly concerned about the state’s future — and they overwhelmingly want leaders to take advantage of billions of federal stimulus dollars coming to Texas to facilitate long-term solutions.
Issues: Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, State Parks
2ND EDITION
JANUARY 2021
Texas voters express concern about the future
Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, this poll found economic recover and public health topping voter concerns.
Issues: Health Care, Workforce, Education
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