Findings from the 2016 American Values SurveyRobert P. Jones, Ph.D. | @robertpjones | #AVS2016
The Divide Over America’s Future: 1950 or 2050?
THE STATE OF THE NATION
3
Partisan Divide On America's Direction
42
21
7
25
21
25
49
30
36
53
42
44
0 20 40 60 80 100
Democrat
Independent
Republican
All Americans
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Is America headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track?
Right direction Wrong track - just in the last few years Wrong track - for a long time
4
Less Pessimism About Financial Future of Next Generation
5239
1836
2624
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
June 2013 September 2016
Note: For respondents without children, question was asked about "the next generation of young people."
Sources: PRRI/Brookings 2013 Economic Values Survey; PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Do you think that your generation is better off, about the same, or worse off financially than your children’s generation will be?
Don't know/Refused
Worse off
About the same
Better off
5
How important are the following issues to you personally?Percent saying critical issue, by party affiliation
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
6
How important are the following issues to you personally?Percent saying critical issue, by party affiliation
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
THE 2016 ELECTION:THE AMERICAN VALUES SURVEY SUPPLEMENT
8
Clinton Opens Double-Digit Lead Over Trump
4347 49 51
43 4138 36
13 12 14 13
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Sept. 22-25 Sept. 28-Oct. 2 Oct. 5-9 Oct. 12-17
Sources: PRRI/The Atlantic surveys; PRRI/Brookings October 2016 Survey.
Presidential vote choice among likely voters
Hillary Clinton Donald Trump Other candidate/Don't know/Refused
9
The Religion Vote in the 2016 Election
51
15
37
57
69
36
69
49
33
17
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
All likely voters White evangelical Protestant
White mainline Protestant
Catholic Unaffiliated
Source: PRRI/Brookings October 2016 Survey.
Vote choice among likely voters by religious affiliation
Hillary Clinton Donald Trump
10
Religious Americans Grow More Accepting of Politicians' Personal Indiscretions
44
3038
42
6361
72
60 58 60
0
20
40
60
80
All Americans White evangelical Protestant
White mainline Protestant
Catholic Unaffiliated
Sources: PRRI/RNS June 2011 Survey; PRRI/Brookings October 2016 Survey.
Percent who agree an elected official who commits an immoral act in their personal life can still behave ethically and fulfill their
duties in their public and professional life
2011 2016
11
White Evangelicals Less Likely to Say Strong Religious Beliefs Very Important for Presidential Candidate
64
49
28
39
5
5
3
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
2011
2016
Source: PRRI 2011 American Values Survey; PRRI/Brookings October 2016 Survey.
Thinking about your vote for president, how important is it for a candidate to have strong religious beliefs?
Among White Evangelicals
Very important Somewhat important Not too important
Not at all important Don't know/Refused
CANDIDATES, PARTIES, AND THE ELECTION
13
Public Attributes More Positive Qualities to Clinton than Trump
45 47 50 52 55 5761 64
44 47
3640 39
35 33 31
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Is honest and trustworthy
Is a strong and decisive
leader
Has strong religious beliefs
Cares about people like
you
Will use American
military power responsibly
Understands the problems
of poor Americans
Has the right temperament
and personality to be president
Has the right background
and experience
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think it applies more to Hillary Clinton or more
to Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton Donald Trump
14
America's Partisan Segregation
4387
5076
6074
86
65
8741
7569
7542
20
61
100 80 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80 100
RepublicanDemocrat
White working classWhite college educated
White, non-HispanicHispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
All Americans
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Percent who say they have a close friend or family member who is supporting...
Hillary Clinton Donald Trump
15
Growing Dissatisfaction with the Two Major Parties
48
61
45
38
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1990 2016
Sources: Gordon Black/USA Today Poll, August 1990; PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Neither political party represents my views anymore
Agree Disagree
16
Trump Supporters Lack Confidence in Accuracy of Election
70
41
43
24
49
38
5
9
17
0 20 40 60 80 100
Clinton likely voter
Trump likely voter
All Americans
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
How much confidence do you have that your vote will be counted accurately?
A great deal of confidence Only some confidence
Hardly any confidence Don't know/Refused
17
Partisan Polarization in Concerns about Voter Fraud vs. Voter Disenfranchisement
37
66
34
19
41
17
41
62
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
All Americans Republican Independent Democrat
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Thinking about U.S. elections in general...Overall, which do you think is a bigger problem in U.S. elections today?
People casting votes who are not eligible to vote
Eligible voters being denied the right to vote
18
Stark Racial and Ethnic Divides in Concerns about Voter Fraud vs. Voter Disenfranchisement
37
21
31
42 4541
66
50
35 33
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
All Americans Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic White, non-Hispanic
White working class
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Thinking about U.S. elections in general...Overall, which do you think is a bigger problem in U.S. elections today?
People casting votes who are not eligible to vote
Eligible voters being denied the right to vote
RACIAL DIVIDES ON TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS BY POLICE
20
Views of Police Treatment of Nonwhites Grow More Positive Among White Americans Across the Political Spectrum
50
70
48
32
64
83
61
42
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
All white Americans White Republican White independent White Democrat
Sources: PRRI 2015 American Values Survey; PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Percent who agree police officers generally treat blacks and other minorities the same as whites, 2015 vs. 2016
2015 2016
21
Large Partisan Divide on Police Treatment of Nonwhites
32
51
80
52
67
48
20
47
0 20 40 60 80 100
Democrat
Independent
Republican
All Americans
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Police officers generally treat blacks and other minorities the same as whites, by party affiliation
Agree Disagree Don't know/Refused
THE NOSTALGIA ELECTION: 1950 OR 2050?
23
White Men Most Averse to Politically Correct Language
57 5646
69
52
71
51
39 38
52
27
44
25
45
01020304050607080
All Americans
Nonwhite men
Nonwhite women
White men White women
White working-
class men
White working-
class women
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view?
Even if certain people are offended, it is important to speak frankly about sensitive issues and problems facing the country
It's important to avoid using language that is hurtful and offensive to some people when discussing sensitive issues
24
The country would be better off if we had more women in political office
58
50
65
40
47
32
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
All Americans Men Women
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
By gender
Agree Disagree
25
Massive Partisan Divides on Impact of Immigrants
46
73
45
29
44
20
45
63
01020304050607080
All Americans Republican Independent Democrat
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view?
The growing number of newcomers from other countries threatens traditional American customs and values
The growing number of newcomers from other countries strengthens American society
26
Attitudes on Protectionist Policies
41 43
8678
1218
0
20
40
60
80
100
Building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico
Temporarily banning Muslims from other countries from entering the U.S.
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Percent who favor each policy, by presidential candidate preference
All Americans Trump likely voter Clinton likely voter
27
Nostalgia for the 1950s
66 66 65 62 60 57 56 48 43 42 41 41 34 31 25
34 34 34 36 39 43 43 51 56 57 59 57 65 68 74
0
20
40
60
80
100
Source: PRRI 2016 American Values Survey.
Since the 1950s, do you think American culture and way of life has mostly changed for the better, or has it mostly changed for the worse?
Mostly changed for the better Mostly changed for the worse Don't know/Refused
Thank YouMore findings from the 2016 American Values Survey
can be accessed online at prri.org
@PRRIpoll