68% of NH Voters: Nation on Wrong Track – Scientific Poll
In a scientific poll conducted by St. Anselm College this month, 68% of 1,323 New Hampshire registered voters said that they believe the country is on the wrong track. Only 21% said it was on the right track, which leaves 11% saying they have no opinion. While this question isn’t specifically about New Hampshire independence, it does suggest a ripe atmosphere for NH voters to accept and seriously consider the proposed constitutional amendment. After all, if it makes it to the ballot in 2022, it will pass with 67% – 2/3rds – of the vote.
The demographic breakdowns are more interesting. More younger voters are dissatisfied than older voters, with 73% of 18-34 year olds and 70% of 35-54 year olds saying “wrong track” compared to 67% of 55-64 and 63% of 65+. This falls in line with other polls specifically about secession, showing younger people are more favorable toward the idea.
Among the political parties, 95% of voters who identified as republicans said “wrong track” as did 74% of undeclared voters. Undeclared voters are the plurality of New Hampshire voters and they are the ones who decide every election. Even 35% of democrats answered “wrong track”, as did 39% of those who self-described as “very liberal”.
75% of those living in the North Country and Lakes Region said “wrong track”, with the other regions around 66-67%. Also, the more “educated” a voter was, the less likely they were to say “wrong track”: 76% of those with a high school-or-less education level, 72% some college, 67% college graduate, 58% graduate school. You can read the full poll results here.
It’s also worth pointing out the poll was only conducted among registered voters and presumably there are some unregistered voters who might get excited enough about the possibility of independence to register to vote, though the percentage of registered voters to general population of New Hampshire is very high.
There has been a lot of buzz about the proposed constitutional amendment, with loyalists to the Empire already writing letters to various newspapers attacking independence. However, the amendment has yet to be assigned a number and has yet to really receive any mainstream media attention as a result, since its difficult at this point to refer to it. Expect to see increasing coverage, interest, and discussion as the months approach the inevitable public hearing in front of a state house committee in early 2022. All bills in New Hampshire must have a public hearing, and this one could be very well attended. This is a conversation whose time has come and people are primed to receive the ideas of independence and an NHexit.