POLL: PROP B SUPPORT GROWS

Local support for Proposition B has edged up during the past two weeks, according to a Southeast Missourian survey.

A poll of 123 people who said they were registered voters showed that of those with a definite opinion on Proposition B, 65 percent supported the measure. A similar survey two weeks earlier showed 61 percent supported the ballot issue.

The most recent telephone poll also shows that one-third of the voters are still undecided about how they will vote Nov. 5 on Proposition B. But that number is dropping.

The survey, commissioned by the Southeast Missourian, was conducted Tuesday night by students in the marketing department at Southeast Missouri State University under the direction of Peter Gordon. It has a statistical margin of error of 7.4 percentage points.

Voters were asked about Proposition B, a statewide tax-and-reform package for education.

Of all the voters questioned, 43 percent (53 voters) said they support Proposition B; 24 percent (29) said they would vote no and 33 percent (41) said they are undecided.

When the undecided votes are removed, the survey shows that 65 percent support Proposition B and 35 percent oppose it.

The results indicate that support for Proposition B is stronger in Cape Girardeau than in Jackson, Scott City or other outlying areas.

Of respondents from Cape Girardeau, 44 percent said they plan to vote yes, 22 percent said they plan to vote no, and 34 percent said they have not made up their minds.

Of those with a definite opinion, 67 percent support the measure and 33 percent are against it.

The survey also showed that men were slightly more likely to vote no (18 yes and 14 no). Women were likely to vote yes by a margin of more than 2.3 to 1 (35 yes and 15 no).

The percentage of voters surveyed who said they were undecided dropped 8 percentage points over the two-week span from 41.3 percent to 33 percent.

The large number of undecided voters could still swing the vote in either direction once they make a decision, the survey indicates. For example, if 75 percent of those currently undecided eventually vote no on Proposition B, the result would be almost a tie.