The poll of 1,056 registered voters in the city of Rochester was conducted July 29 to August 1 for Voice of the Voter by the Siena College Research Instiitute. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.0 percent. Voice of the Voter is a collaborative effort among the Democrat and Chronicle, WXXI (Channel 21 and AM 1370), WHAM-TV (Channel 13) and WDKX-FM (103.9). It seeks to inform citizens and give them a voice in the election process.
The cross-tabulation data (click here for PDF) shows more details about the results of the poll, breaking down the responses by category such as age, gender, race, and party affiliation.
Click here to view results from the 2012 Voice of the Voter Poll, the 2011 Voice of the Voter Poll or the 2010 Voice of the Voter Poll.
Q1. Is New York State on the right track, or is it headed in the wrong direction? Right track 51% Wrong direction 33% Don't know/No opinion 16% Q2. Is the City of Rochester on the right track, or is it headed in the wrong direction? Right track 51% Wrong direction 38% Don't know/No opinion 11% Now I'm going to ask you to think about some aspects of fair, poor or let me know if you simply don't know enough about it in order to say. Q3. How responsive local government is to the needs of citizens Excellent 3% Good 29% Fair 40% Poor 19% Don't know 9% Refused 0% Q4. The quality of our public schools Excellent 2% Good 13% Fair 29% Poor 46% Don't know 10% Refused 0% Q5. The condition of public parks and other recreational facilities Excellent 16% Good 52% Fair 19% Poor 5% Don't know 8% Refused 0% Q6. The condition of local roads, sidewalks and other public works Excellent 3% Good 37% Fair 36% Poor 22% Don't know 2% Refused 0% Q7. The job done by the police to keep citizens safe Excellent 11% Good 41% Fair 31% Poor 13% Don't know 3% Refused 0% Q8. The ability to obtain suitable employment Excellent 1% Good 20% Fair 39% Poor 28% Don't know 12% Refused 1% I'm going to read a series of names of people in public life and I'd like you to tell me whether you have a favorable opinion or an unfavorable opinion of each person I name. Q9. (Democrats only) Thomas Richards Favorable 66% Unfavorable 15% Don't know/No opinion 19% Q10. (Democrats only) Lovely Warren Favorable 50% Unfavorable 20% Don't know/No opinion 30% Q11. (Democrats only) Alex White Favorable 21% Unfavorable 15% Don't know/No opinion 63% Q12. Maggie Brooks Favorable 41% Unfavorable 51% Don't know/No opinion 8% Q13. Louise Slaughter Favorable 75% Unfavorable 18% Don't know/No opinion 7% Q14. Thomas Richards is running for re-election for Mayor this fall, as things stand now, would you vote to re-elect him or would you prefer someone else? Re-elect Richards 51% Prefer someone else 31% Don't know/No opinion 17% Q15. How would you rate the job that Thomas Richards is doing as Mayor. Would you rate it as excellent, good, fair, or poor? Excellent 10% Good 42% Fair 36% Poor 8% Don't know/No opinion 4% Q16. (Democrats only) If the Democratic primary for Mayor were held today who would you vote for if the candidates were: Thomas Richards 55% Lovely Warren 28% Don't know/No opinion 17% Q17. (Democrats only) How likely would you say you are to vote for [CANDIDATE NAME]? Absolutely certain; there's no chance I will change my mind 49% Fairly certain; it's unlikely I will change my mind 35% Not very certain; I very well may change my mind 12% Not certain at all; there's a good chance I will change my mind 4% Don't know/No opinion 1% (Democrats only) On each of the following issues, I'd like you to tell me who you think would do a better job representing you as Rochester's Mayor. Q18. Fighting crime Thomas Richards 52% Lovely Warren 24% Don't know/No opinion 24% Q19. Improving public education Thomas Richards 36% Lovely Warren 37% Don't know/No opinion 27% Q20. Addressing neighborhood concerns Thomas Richards 38% Lovely Warren 43% Don't know/No opinion 19% Q21. Managing economic development in Rochester Thomas Richards 59% Lovely Warren 22% Don't know/No opinion 19% Q22. Creating jobs Thomas Richards 51% Lovely Warren 24% Don't know/No opinion 25% Q23. Keeping city taxes under control Thomas Richards 52% Lovely Warren 23% Don't know/No opinion 25% Q24. Addressing the city's long term liabilities like pension costs Thomas Richards 56% Lovely Warren 19% Don't know/No opinion 25% Q25. Do you support or oppose the Mayor being in control of the Rochester schools? Support 38% Oppose 49% Don't know/No opinion 14% Q26. Are you in favor of or opposed to the City spending additional monies to maintain roads, bridges and other aspects of Rochester's infrastructure? In favor 80% Opposed 16% Don't know/No opinion 4%