Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
Yes
No
But 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
Yes
No
Yes
No
91%
6
59% 35
Total
Whites
Blacks
91%
97%
5
3
55%
86%
39
13
Republicans
Democrats
Independents
89%
95%
90%
7
3
7
39%
79%
58%
52
19
36
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
95%
89%
90%
90%
3
4
8
6
65%
57%
56%
61%
32
37
38
33
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
95%
94%
90%
85%
3
3
8
8
67%
57%
57%
60%
30
37
39
32
In 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
Reps Dems
Agree
20%
29%
9%
Disagree
14
8
24
Dont know enough
65
62
66
Inds
22%
11
66
Photo IDs
Some 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.
Yes
No
93% 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
Reps Dems
A lot
28%
37% 18%
Sometimes
36
36
32
Not much
22
17
31
Not at all
9
5
15
Inds
29%
38
19
7
Dems
11%
37
50
Inds
23%
21
48
Yes
No
Now
76%
20
6/2014 8/2013
78%
73%
19
20
7/2008
76%
20
2/2000
71%
26
6/1997 12/1996
61%
56%
34
39
5/1992
50%
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.
Yes
No
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.
Good
Bad
Now
52%
38
12/2014
45%
43
8/2014
47%
44
4/2014
55%
33
1/2012
62%
30
4/2009
66%
22
6/1997
38%
52
5/1992
25%
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.
Generally good
Generally bad
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
Now 3/2014 8/2013
2/2000
12/1996
Will always exist
44% 46%
42%
50%
53%
Real hope of ending it 50
52
52
46
43
5/1992
53%
40
Here too, there are sizable racial differences. 60% of blacks think racial discrimination will always
exist, compared to just 40% of whites.
62
14
Among Blacks:
How many close friends are white? 11%
52
27
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.
7%
40
31
20
Good
Bad
Don't know/no answer
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
52
56
32
38
35
58
10
9
10
Dec14c
%
45
43
13
Q2. Do you think race relations in YOUR COMMUNITY are generally good or generally bad?
Good
Bad
Don't know/no answer
79
16
82
14
5
63
29
4
78
17
8
Q3. 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?
Progress
No real progress
Don't know/no answer
76
20
81
15
4
50
46
4
Jun14c2
78
19
2
Q4. 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?
Always prejudice and discrimination
Real hope
50
None now (vol.)
1
Don't know/no answer
44
54
1
5
40
35
*
5
60
4
Mar14d
46
52
*
1
Q5. 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?
All
Most
Only some
Almost none
Don't know/no answer
6
37
51
3
7
38
49
1
4
2
25
67
5
5
Jun14c2
5
38
52
2
3
Q6. 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?
Necessary
Was not necessary
Don't know/no answer
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
91
91
97
6
5
3
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
No longer necessary
Don't know/no answer
59
55
35
6
86
39
6
13
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
Black people
No difference
Don't know/no answer
27
3
21
67
3
3
57
73
3
2
39
2
Q9. Do you favor or oppose states requiring people to show valid photo identification before they
are permitted to vote?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/no answer
79
83
19
2
66
15
2
31
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
23
Make it harder to for minorities to vote 21
Havent heard enough to say
49
Don't know/no answer
6
26
16
52
7
12
49
38
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?
A lot
Sometimes
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/no answer
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
28
27
31
36
37
33
22
23
23
9
8
9
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
Disagree
Don't know enough to say
Don't know/no answer
20
14
23
13
65
1
9
21
62
1
69
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
Some
Not much
No confidence
Don't know/no answer
53
26
9
57
26
8
7
5
42
29
16
6
3
7
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
No
Don't know/No answer
8
88
7
89
4
12
83
3
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?
1
8
33
24
9
1
9
34
24
9
25
2
6
29
29
7
22
28
Mar14d
%
3
10
34
26
7
19
Q16. Do you currently have government-issued photo identification such as a driver's license or
U.S. passport, or not?
Yes
No
Don't know/No answer
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
%
%
%
93
94
89
7
5
11
*
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?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer
16
55
20
7
19
59
17
3
3
4
30
33
30
2
Apr09b
%
17
54
20
8
2
Q18. 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
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer
3
15
31
49
2
9
29
59
2
7
40
31
20
2
Q19. About how many of your close friends are black --none, a few, about half, or almost all?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer
18
56
17
8
21
62
14
2
1
1
26
24
49
1
Q20. About how many of your close friends are white --none, a few, about half, or almost all?
None
A few
About half
Almost all
Don't know/no answer
5
22
22
49
3
12
21
63
1
11
52
27
9
1
Total Respondents
Whites
Blacks
Unweighted
1,207
759
315
Weighted
Margin of error
3pts
870
145
4pts
8pts