Poll: New Yorkers of all regions and parties oppose prison-based gerrymandering

Majorities of both parties, in upstate and downstate New York, say that prison inmates should be counted as residents of their home districts.

by Peter Wagner, August 17, 2011

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week reported that New York State

voters say 60 – 25 percent that prison inmates should be counted as residents of their home districts, not of where they’re imprisoned. Republican and upstate voters support counting inmates in their homes, not their prisons.

The poll was conducted from August 3 – 8, with 1,640 registered voters. The margin of error was +/- 2.4 percentage points.

On August 4, New York’s redistricting task force announced — finally — that it would comply with state law and count incarcerated people at their home addresses. Nine state senators, however, are still suing to overturn the law.