All Over Albany

Picking through the new Siena poll on topics such as recreational marijuana legalization

Whenever there's a new Siena poll out -- like this Monday morning -- the headline is often about the favorability of whoever the governor is or some sort of major issue that's been getting a lot of attention lately.

But the poll typically asks people about a range of issues. We like to pick through these results from the backend of the poll because they provide a peek at how people are feeling about this stuff and some of the dividing lines that run (or don't) through the electorate -- Democrats and Republicans, young and old.

Here are a few such bits -- including about recreational marijuana -- from this new Siena poll...

Prohibit public money from being used to settle sexual harassment claims against individuals who work for government agencies
Overall: 65% support | 31% oppose
Support among...
+ Democrats: 66%
+ Republicans: 63%
+ Independents/other: 63%

Make New York´s law on abortion consistent with the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade
Overall: 60% support | 22% oppose | 18% don't know or no opinion
Support/oppose splits among:
+ Democrats: 71/13
+ Republicans: 46/39
+ Independents: 57/27
+ Men: 56/26
+ Women: 63/19
+ Liberals: 79/6
+ Moderates: 62/21
+ Conservatives: 38/42
+ Catholics: 58/28
+ Jewish: 67/13
+ Protestant: 54/32
+ Other religion: 65/9

Pass a law to eliminate monetary bail for people facing misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges
Overall: 55% support | 35% oppose
Support/oppose splits among...
+ Democrats: 66/27
+ Republicans: 36/51
+ Independents: 56/36
+ White: 54/37
+ African American: 60/28
+ Latino: 61/35

Pass the Child Victims Act, which would, among other provisions, eliminate the statute of limitations for all sexually-related criminal cases when committed against a person less than 18 years old, and extend the statute of limitations for
civil litigation
Overall: 79% support | 14% oppose
Support/oppose splits among:
+ Democrats: 83/12
+ Republicans: 70/21
+ Independents: 85/11

Pass the New York Dream Act, which would allow the children of undocumented immigrants to receive financial aid for higher education
Overall: 61% support | 37% oppose
Support/oppose splits among:
+ Democrats: 80/17
+ Republicans: 26/72
+ Independents: 58/41
+ White: 54/34
+ African American: 84/16
+ Latino: 77/21
+ 18-34: 77/21
+ 35-54: 57/41
+ 55+: 56/41

Institute early voting in New York, like exists in dozens of other states
Overall: 67% support | 27% oppose
Support/oppose splits among...
+ Democrats: 81/13
+ Republicans: 48/48
+ Independents: 64/31

On another issue, do you support or oppose legalizing the recreational use of marijuana?
Overall: 56% support | 40% oppose
Support/oppose splits among...
+ Democrats: 66/30
+ Republicans: 41/57
+ Independents: 57/40
+ 18-34: 76/20
+ 35-54: 57/41
+ 55+: 46/49

The poll was conducted February 5-8 of 823 New York State registered voters. Margin of error is +/- 3.9%.

photo: Ryan Bushby via Wikipedia (CC BY 2.5)