CBS NEWS POLL

For release: Wednesday, March 4, 2015

6:30 pm ET

Race and Voting Rights: 50 Years After Selma

February 26-March 2, 2015

43% of Americans say all or most of the goals of the civil rights movement have been met, but 54% think only some or none of those aims have been achieved, including 72% of African Americans. 91% think the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary, including large majorities of whites and blacks. And 59% of Americans still think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today.

57% of African Americans think blacks are more likely than whites to encounter trouble when voting, while most whites (73%) think blacks and whites are treated the same. 79% favor states requiring photo ID to vote, but 31% of blacks oppose this, compared to just 15% of whites.

52% of Americans now say race relations in the U.S. are generally good, but only 32% of black Americans hold that view.

The Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Fifty years after the Selma to Montgomery marches, Americans see progress, but 54% (including 72% of blacks) think only some or none of the goals of Martin Luther King and the 1960s civil rights movement have been achieved. 43% think most or all of the goals have been met.How Many Goals of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement Have Been Achieved?

Total

Whites

Blacks

All/most

43%

45%

27%

Only some

51

49

67

Almost none

3

1

5

The Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 culminated in the 1965 Voting Rights Act a landmark piece of legislation that led to the enfranchisement of blacks in the South, who faced multiple barriers to voting despite the guarantees laid out in the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.Looking back, nine in 10 Americans think the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary, including overwhelming majorities regardless of race, political affiliation, age, and region of the country. And most Americans still think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today, though the percentage is smaller -- 59% think the law is still necessary, while 35% do not.

The 1965 Voting Rights ActNecessary in 1965Still necessary today

Yes

91%

59%

No

6

35But here there are significant differences based on race and political party. 86% of blacks think the law is still necessary, compared to 55% of whites. And while about eight in 10 Democrats and just over half of independents think the law is necessary today, most Republicans 52% - do not. The 1965 Voting Rights Act

Necessary in 1965 Still Necessary Today

YesNo

YesNo

Total

91% 6

59%35Whites

91% 5

55%39Blacks

97% 3

86%13Republicans

89% 7

39%52Democrats

95% 3

79%19Independents

90% 7

58%36

Northeast

95% 3

65%32

Midwest

89% 4

57%37

South

90% 8

56%38

West

90% 6

61%3318-29

95% 3

67%3030-44

94% 3

57%3745-64

90% 8

57%3965+

85% 8

60%32In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act, overturning the requirement that states with low voter registration and a history of voter suppression get approval from the federal government before changing their election and voting laws. Nearly two thirds of Americans say they dont know enough about the Courts decision to have an opinion on it. 20% agree with this Supreme Court decision, while fewer 14% - disagree.

Feelings about the 2013 Supreme Court Decision

Overturning Parts of the Voting Rights Act

Total

RepsDemsInds

Agree

20%

29% 9%22%

Disagree

14

82411

Dont know enough

65

626666Photo IDsSome states now require voters to show a photo ID in order to vote, and Americans overwhelmingly support this requirement. 79% think states should require people to show a valid photo ID before they are permitted to vote. But blacks (31%) are twice as likely as whites (15%) to oppose this.Should States Require a Valid ID to Vote?

Total

Whites BlacksRepsDemsIndsYes

79%

83% 66%

93%61%82%No

19

15 31

5361693% of Americans say they personally have a government-issued photo ID, including large majorities of people of all races, ages, and income levels. Still, 11% of African Americans do not have photo ID, compared to 5% of whites.The justification for requiring a photo ID to vote is in order to prevent voter fraud that is, people voting who are not eligible to vote. Though just 28% think voter fraud happens a lot, another 36% think it happens some of the time.Republicans (37%) are twice as likely as Democrats (18%) to think voter fraud happens a lot; nearly three in four Republicans think it happens at least sometimes.How Often Does Voter Fraud Occur?

Total

RepsDemsInds

A lot

28%

37%18%29%

Sometimes

36

363238Not much

22

173119Not at all

9

515 7

Limiting Early Voting Hours

In recent years, some states and counties have pushed to shorten the voting hours and times available for people to vote early and absentee. Americans are divided as to the purpose of these changes. 23% think this is an attempt to cut costs, and 21% think it is an attempt to make it harder for minorities to vote, while half 49% - dont know enough to say. There are racial and political differences. While just 16% of whites think these reductions are attempts to suppress votes, this rises to 49% among blacks. Democrats (37%) are far more likely than independents (21%) and Republicans (5%) to think these reductions are an attempt to make it harder for minorities to vote.

Shortening Early Voting Hours in Some States Is an Attempt to.

Total

Whites BlacksRepsDemsInds

Save money

23%

26% 12%

36%11%23%Make it harder for minorities to vote21

16 49

53721

Dont know enough to say

49

52 38

515048Voting in the U.S. TodayToday, two in three Americans (67%) dont think there is any difference between blacks and whites when it comes to voting, though 27% think that even today, blacks are more likely to encounter problems when voting.

There are stark differences by race. While nearly three in four whites think blacks and whites are treated the same when it comes to voting, 57% of blacks think black Americans have more trouble voting than white Americans.Who Is More Likely to Encounter Problems Voting?

Total

Whites

Blacks

White people

3%

3%

2%

Black people

27

21

57No difference

67

73

39Most Americans have at least some confidence that their vote will be counted accurately when they cast their ballots, though whites (57%) are more likely than blacks (42%) to have a lot of confidence.

Confidence that Your Vote Will be Counted Accurately

Total

Whites

Blacks

A lot

53%

57%

42%

Some

26

26

29Not much/none16

14

23

Few Americans report that they themselves have ever had trouble voting.

Have You Ever Had Trouble Voting?

Total

Whites

Blacks

Yes

8%

7%

12%

No

88

89

83Race Relations: How Much Progress Has Been Made?

Three in four Americans think theres been real progress since the 1960s getting rid of racial discrimination. This number has been fairly consistent in recent years, but is 26 points higher than it was in 1992.

Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination?

Now6/2014 8/2013

7/2008

2/2000

6/199712/19965/1992

Yes76%78% 73%

76%

71%

61%56%

50%

No2019 20

20

26

3439

46

Views on progress differ by race, however. Whites (81%) are far more likely than African Americans (50%) to think real progress has been made. In addition, the percentage of blacks who think theres been real progress getting rid of racial discrimination has dropped nine points since June 2014, before the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Real Progress in Getting Rid of Racial Discrimination?Whites

Blacks

Now6/2014

Now6/2014

Yes

81%82%

50%59%

No

1516

4638

Just over half of Americans (52%) say race relations in the U.S. are generally good, up seven points from last December, shortly after grand juries did not indict police officers in the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York. 38% of Americans now say race relations are bad.

Race Relations in the U.S.

Now12/2014 8/20144/2014 1/2012 4/2009 6/1997

5/1992

Good52%45% 47%55% 62% 66%38%

25%

Bad3843 44

33 30 22

52

68

However, the rise in more positive attitudes about race relations comes largely from white Americans. 56% of whites now say race relations are good, up from 47% in December. Blacks continue to be more critical. Just a third of African Americans think race relations are good (similar to last December), while most 58% - say they are bad.

Race Relations in the U.S.

Whites

Blacks

Now12/2014Now12/2014

Generally good56%47%

32%34%

Generally bad

3542

5854

Americans - both black and white - rate race relations in their own community much more positively than they rate it in the country as a whole, which has historically been the case. 79% say race relations in their community are good, including 82% of whites and 63% of blacks.

Looking ahead, opinion is somewhat divided on whether there will ever be an end to racial discrimination. 50% of Americans think there is real hope of ending racial discrimination in the long run, but 44% think there will always be a lot of prejudice and discrimination. These views are similar to what they have been in recent years, but more positive compared to the 1990s and in 2000.

Racial Discrimination in America

Now3/2014 8/20132/2000

12/19965/1992

Will always exist 44%46% 42%

50%

53%

53%

Real hope of ending it 5052 52

46

43

40

Here too, there are sizable racial differences. 60% of blacks think racial discrimination will always exist, compared to just 40% of whites.

Racial Discrimination in America

Total

Whites

Blacks

Will always exist

44%

40%

60%

Real hope of ending it

50

54

35

Blacks and Whites: How Integrated Are We?

How much interaction is there between whites and blacks? Eight in 10 whites say just a few or none of their close friends are black; only 16% say half or almost all of their friends are black. Blacks themselves are more likely to have white close friends, although 63% have a few or none. How Many Close Friends are Black/White?

NoneA fewHalfAlmost All

Among Whites:

How many close friends are black?21%6214 2Among Blacks:

How many close friends are white?11%5227 9

When asked about the racial make-up of their neighborhood, a majority of whites (78%) say few or none of the people who live in their immediate area are black. On the other hand, half of African Americans (51%) say that half or almost all of their neighbors are white.

How Many People Who Live in Your Area Are Black/White.?

NoneA fewHalfAlmost All

Among Whites:

How many people in your area are black?19%5917 3

Among Blacks:

How many people in your area are white? 7%403120President Lyndon Johnson

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in August of 1965. Looking back at his presidency more generally, Americans view him more positively than negatively. 42% think he was a very good or good president (including just 1% who say he was one of the greatest), while a third say he was only fair or a poor president. Still, a quarter doesnt have an opinion. African Americans are split in their views of President Johnson. Looking at partisan differences, Democrats are more inclined to view President Johnsons presidency positively, while Republicans are divided.

Lyndon Johnson as President

TotalWhites

Blacks

RepsDemsInds

One of the greatest

1% 1%

2%

1% 2% 1%

Very good/good

4143

35

365236Fair/Poor

3333

36

402534Dont know

2522

28

242029

______________________________________________________________________

This poll was conducted by telephone February 26- March 2, 2015 among a random sample of 1,207 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from random samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.

Additional interviews were conducted with African Americans, who had previously completed a survey as part of a random sample, to yield a sample size of 315 African Americans. 759 whites were interviewed.

The combined African American and non-African American samples were weighted separately to match their groups population characteristics such as gender, age, education, region, marital status and phone use based on recent U.S. Census estimates. The samples were then combined and weighted to the total U.S. adult population.

The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3 percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. The margin of error for the sample of whites is 4 points and 8 points for African Americans. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.CBS News Poll

Race and Voting Rights: 50 Years After SelmaFebruary 26-March 2, 2015Q1. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS

TotalWhiteBlack

Dec14c

% % %

%Good

525632

45Bad

383558

43Don't know/no answer

10 910

13Q2. Do you think race relations in YOUR COMMUNITY are generally good or generally bad?

Good

798263

78Bad

161429

17Don't know/no answer

5 4 8

5Q3. Some people say that since the 1960s there has been a lot of real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination against blacks. Others say that there hasn't been much real progress for blacks over that time. Which do you agree with more? Would you say there's been a lot of real progress getting rid of racial discrimination or hasn't there been much real progress?

Jun14c2

Progress

768150

78No real progress

201546

19Don't know/no answer

4 4 4

2Q4. Do you think there will always be a lot of racial prejudice and discrimination in America, or is there real hope of ending it in the long run?

Mar14d

Always prejudice and discrimination444060

46Real hope

505435

52None now (vol.)

1 1 *

*Don't know/no answer

5 5 4

1Q5. Thinking about the goals of Martin Luther King and the 1960's civil rights movement, do you think that all of their goals have been achieved, most have been achieved, only some have been achieved, or almost none of their goals have been achieved?

Jun14c2

All

6 7 2

5Most

373825

38Only some

514967

52Almost none

3 1 5

2Don't know/no answer

4 5 *

3Q6. As you may know, the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960's to prevent state and local governments from using rules and procedures which prevented many black people and other racial minorities from voting. Do you think it was necessary to pass the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities were allowed to vote, or dont you think that was necessary?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS

TotalWhiteBlack

% % %

Necessary

919197

Was not necessary

6 5 3

Don't know/no answer

3 4 1

Q7. Do you think the Voting Rights Act is necessary today to make sure that blacks and other racial minorities are allowed to vote, or do you think the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary?

Necessary today

595586

No longer necessary

353913

Don't know/no answer

6 6 1

Q8. In general, who do you think is more likely to encounter problems when trying to vote (white people), (black people), or isnt there much difference?

White people

3 3 2

Black people

272157

No difference

677339

Don't know/no answer

3 3 2

Q9. Do you favor or oppose states requiring people to show valid photo identification before they are permitted to vote?

Favor

798366

Oppose

191531

Don't know/no answer

2 2 4

Q10. In recent years, some state legislatures and officials have shortened the voting hours and times available for people to vote early or absentee. From what you may have heard, do you think such efforts are (probably an attempt to save money for states with budget problems), or (probably an attempt to make it harder for minority and lower income groups to vote), or haven't you heard enough about this yet to say?

To save money

232612

Make it harder to for minorities to vote211649

Havent heard enough to say

495238

Don't know/no answer

6 7 2

Q11. In general, how widespread do you think voter fraud is in U.S. elections, such as people voting who are not eligible to vote? Do you think this happens a lot, sometimes, not much, or not at all?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS

TotalWhiteBlack

% % %

A lot

282731

Sometimes

363733

Not much

222323

Not at all

9 8 9

Don't know/no answer

6 5 5

Q12. The 1965 Voting Rights Act had required states with low voter registration rates and a history of voter suppression to get approval from the federal government before changing their election and voting laws. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this requirement was no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree with this Supreme Court decision, or dont you know enough to say?

Agree

2023 9

Disagree

141321

Don't know enough to say

656269

Don't know/no answer

1 1 1

Q13. When you vote in elections, how much confidence do you have that your vote will be counted accurately--a lot, some, not much, or no confidence your vote will be counted accurately?

A lot

535742

Some

262629

Not much

9 816

No confidence

7 6 7

Don't know/no answer

5 3 6

Q14. Thinking about times when you have voted or tried to vote in the past, have you ever encountered any problems while trying to vote, or not?

Yes

8 712

No

888983

Don't know/No answer

4 3 5

Q15. Looking back, would you say Lyndon Johnson was one of America's greatest presidents, a very good president, a good president, only a fair president, or a poor president?

Mar14d

%

One of the greatest

1 1 2

3Very good

8 9 6

10Good

333429

34Fair

242429

26Poor

9 9 7

7Don't know/no answer

252228

19Q16. Do you currently have government-issued photo identification such as a driver's license or U.S. passport, or not?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS

TotalWhiteBlack

% % %

Yes

939489

No

7 511

Don't know/No answer

* 1 1

Q17. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are black--none, a few, about half, or almost all?

Apr09b

%

None

1619 4

17A few

555930

54About half

201733

20Almost all

7 330

8Don't know/no answer

3 2 2

1Q18. About how many of the people who live in the immediate area around your home are white--none, a few, about half, or almost all?

None

3 2 7

A few

15 940

About half

312931

Almost all

495920

Don't know/no answer

2 2 3

Q19. About how many of your close friends are black --none, a few, about half, or almost all?

None

1821 1

A few

566226

About half

171424

Almost all

8 249

Don't know/no answer

1 1 *

Q20. About how many of your close friends are white --none, a few, about half, or almost all?

None

5 311

A few

221252

About half

222127

Almost all

4963 9

Don't know/no answer

1 1 *

UnweightedWeightedMargin of error

Total Respondents

1,207

3pts

Whites

759

870

4pts

Blacks

315

145

8pts2