Dispatch Poll: Questionnaire Language

A quick update on the Columbus Dispatch poll: The folks at the Dispatch have kindly provided the full text of the questions asked on their final pre-election survey on Ohio Issues 1 through 5.  The full text appears on the jump. 

The language used for the Dispatch poll was "greatly condensed" as compared to the actual ballot language (as described by Dispatch reporter Darrel Rowland), but not nearly as condensed as I had guessed.  Looking only at the text of the descriptions (and excluding the titles) the poll questions varied in length from 64 to 128 words while the actual language varied from 210 to 932 words.    In my original post, I had guessed incorrectly that the poll had used the even more condensed language that appeared in the graphic sidebar alongside the original poll story.   

The complete language used by the Columbus Dispatch poll follows below.  Use the links to see the actual ballot language for Issues 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

NOV. 8, 2005, STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

    Issue 1: Proposed Constitutional Amendment
   
    (Proposed by Resolution of the General Assembly of Ohio)
   
    The proposed amendment is for the purpose of creating and preserving jobs and stimulating economic growth in all areas of Ohio by improving local government public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, expanding Ohio’s research and development capabilities and product innovation, and developing sites and facilities. The amendment would authorize the state to issue general obligation bonds of up to $2 billion for these purposes.

    Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?   Yes…    No…   Don’t Know…

    Issue 2: Proposed Constitutional Amendment
    (Proposed by Initiative Petition)
    The proposed amendment would allow all electors the choice to vote by absentee ballot in all elections. The amendment would provide that any person qualified to vote in an election is entitled during the 35 days prior to the election to receive and cast a ballot by mail or in person at the county board of elections or additional election location designated by the board.
   
    Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?   Yes…    No…   Don’t Know…

Issue 3: Proposed Constitutional Amendment
   
    (Proposed by Initiative Petition)
    The proposed amendment would establish revised limits on political contributions, establish prohibitions regarding political contributions and provide for revised public disclosure requirements of campaign contributions and expenditures. The amendment would limit annual contributions by individuals to $25,000 in total to all candidates for state executive offices and members of the General Assembly, political parties, PACs, multi-candidate PACs and small donor PACs. The amendment would establish limits ranging from $50 by an individual to a small donor PAC to $100,000 by a political party to a candidate for statewide executive office.

    The measure also would prohibit out-of-state political parties and candidate committees from making contributions or expenditures in connection with any candidate election or making a contribution to a political party in Ohio.
   
    Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?    Yes…   No…   Don’t Know…
      

    Issue 4: Proposed Constitutional Amendment
    (Proposed by Initiative Petition)
    The proposed amendment would provide for the creation of a five-member state redistricting commission with responsibility for creating legislative districts. Sitting judges would choose two members of the commission; the other three would either be appointed by the first two or chosen by lot. The new state commission would replace the existing separate processes for creating legislative districts for representatives to Congress and representatives and senators to the Ohio General Assembly. The commission would be required to create as many legislative districts as possible that are politically competitive.
    The commission may consider whether to alter a plan to preserve communities of interest based on geography, economics, or race, so long as the reconfiguration does not result in a significant reduction in competitiveness.
   
    Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?     Yes…   No…  Don’t Know…

Issue 5: Proposed Constitutional Amendment

    (Proposed by Initiative Petition)
   
    The proposed amendment would create a newly appointed board of nine members to administer elections. The amendment would eliminate responsibility of the elected Ohio Secretary of State to oversee elections.
     The members of the board would be appointed as follows: four by the governor, four by the members of the General Assembly affiliated with the political party that is not the same as that of the governor, and one by a unanimous vote of the chief justice and justices of the Ohio Supreme Court. The member appointed by the Supreme Court may not be affiliated with a political party. The governor and members of the General Assembly must appoint equal numbers of men and women and take into consideration the geographic regions and racial diversity of the state.
   
    Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?     Yes…   No…  Don’t Know…