UMass Poll Releases Results on Massachusetts Issues

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UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll has released a series of results on major issues affecting the residents of Massachusetts. For topline results and crosstabs for all polls, please visit www.umass.edu/poll. 

Latest Coverage:

A June 25 article on a housing policy bill facing the Massachusetts Legislature that cites a recent UMass Poll finding that 66% of respondents favored allowing homeowners to add small accessory dwelling units in single-family zoning districts. Read the article here >

A June 19 article about paying reparations for the harms of slavery cites a 2021 UMass Amherst Poll finding that 57% of all voters between the ages of 18 and 29, and 64% of Democrats, supported reparations to the descendants of enslaved men and women. Read the article here >

A June 12 Boston Globe article about the New Hampshire gubernatorial race mentions the recent UMass Amherst/WCVB poll citing that the number of residents saying the state is on the right track has dropped from 53% in August 2020 to 44% in May 2024. Read the article here >

A June 12 Boston Globe op-ed on the slippery slope of physician-assisted suicide cites increased favorable opinions of the practice from the recent UMass poll. Read the op-ed here >

On June 10, New England Public Media published a story about new polling from UMass Amherst and WCVB-TV which found that the cost and availability of housing is a top concern among Massachusetts residents. Read & listen here >

WCVB's June 4 coverage reported on the new UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll finding that more than six in 10 Massachusetts residents continue to support the “right to shelter” law, though respondents support limiting the capacity of the state shelter system and the maximum time an individual can reside in a shelter. The poll also gauged respondents’ views on recent campus protests related to the war in Gaza and found that roughly one-third supported the protests, 35% opposed them and 32% had no position. The poll of 700 Massachusetts residents was conducted between May 17 and May 30. Read the article here > 

On June 3rd, the poll released results that found Bay State residents view the ongoing housing crisis as the most important issue in the Commonwealth. The results indicated that, of those surveyed, 75% who attempted to purchase a new home and 83% who tried to rent a new home in the past year encountered challenges during the process. These challenges included having offers declined, insufficient funds for down payments or first month/last month/security deposits, an inability to find housing, and discrimination. Jesse Rhodes, co-director of the poll, says, "Massachusetts residents are feeling the pain of high housing costs, which are among the highest on average in the nation. Of those who sought to purchase a home in the last year, 44% say that they could not find a suitable home in their price range. Among renters, 63% say they could not find an affordable home. This is a serious problem that hurts communities as well as the individuals seeking homes. When people can't move where they want to move, they have a harder time accessing jobs, schools, and social services." Read the full article here >

On June 4th, results were released on residents' views on immigration and the Commonwealth's shelter system. Six in 10 polled support the "right to shelter" law, which requires the state to provide housing for families with children, those who are pregnant, unaccompanied minors, and migrant families. "It remains to be seen whether this public support wanes in the coming months as immigration becomes the centerpiece of the 2024 presidential election and the state continues to grapple with a growth in the number of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, but for now the policy remains a popular solution to the growth in migrant families in the commonwealth," notes Tatishe Nteta, director of UMass Poll. Read the full article here > 

UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll results released on June 5th focused on the public's opinion of Governor Maura Healey, as well as key issues leading up to the 2024 election. Overall, Gov. Healey continues to receive strong support among voters in the Bay State. However, her approval rating has dropped among people of color, liberals, Biden voters, and young people. Respondents also voiced concerns over Gov. Healey's handing of the Commonwealth's housing and migrant crises. Results also showed backing for increasing the minimum wage for tipped workers and for giving the state auditor the authority to audit the Massachusetts State Legislature. Read the full article here >