Colorado State Survey Reveals Reasons For Voting Behavior On Amendment 14; Some Voters May Have Taken Shortcut On Ballot
Tuesday, June 24, 1997
FORT COLLINS--A surprising number of Coloradans who voted in
favor of banning animal leghold traps didn't reach decisions
until they entered voting booths, a recent Colorado State
University survey found.
The survey, conducted by the university's Human Dimensions
In Natural Resources Unit and the Colorado Division of Wildlife,
asked 422 Coloradans who voted in November's general election how
they reached decisions about Amendment 14. The amendment, which
proposed a ban on leghold, body-gripping and steel-jawed traps in
Colorado, passed with 52 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed.
The poll also aimed to gauge how Colorado voters reached
decisions about Amendment 14, including information they relied
on to cast votes, when they decided positions and what factors
influenced decisions.
"Wildlife professionals are troubled by the increasing use
of ballot initiatives for dealing with complex wildlife issues,"
said Mike Manfredo, Colorado State professor and study leader.
"It is feared the public is voting on these critical issues
without careful deliberation about the potential consequences of
those decisions."
Eight out of 10 people surveyed decided how they would vote
on Amendment 14 a week or more prior to election day. However,
7 percent of those who voted in favor of the ban decided their
positions in the voting booth, compared to 1 percent of those
opposing the ban who reached their decision on-the-spot.
Despite widespread media coverage about the amendment prior
to the November election, only three out of 10 voters said they
were influenced by an information source such as newspaper or
television, state voting brochures or conversations with others.
Because Amendment 14 passed by a narrow margin, voters who
made their decisions in the voting booth played an important role
in the outcome, Manfredo said. The survey findings support past
research that suggests when there are a number of issues on the
ballot or when people have little interest in an issue, they tend
to adopt shortcuts in reaching decisions. Colorado voters faced a
large ballot last November, along with seven statewide ballot
initiatives that included Amendment 14.
Manfredo said conclusions from past studies are supported by
the findings from Colorado State's survey. On average, survey
respondents who voted yes on Amendment 14 cited fewer reasons
than no voters for their vote. The survey showed that 50 percent
of all yes voters gave one or no reasons for their decision,
compared to 36 percent of no voters.
An overwhelming majority of those who voted to ban trapping-
-about 60 percent--made decisions on the single widespread belief
that trapping is cruel and inhumane. About 28 percent of yes
voters mentioned they felt trapping is unnecessary, outdated or
indiscriminate.
Reasons for voting against the initiative were more diffuse
and included concern for predator control, 26 percent; concern
for ranchers, 23 percent; the belief that the public should not
make the decision, 15 percent; that Amendment 14 should not be a
constitutional amendment, 10 percent; and that government has too
much control, 14 percent.
"Clearly, ballot initiatives are an important check in the
policy formation process," Manfredo said. "However, our study
highlights the limitations of this form of decision-making on
wildlife issues. Decisions about wildlife policy can have a wide
variety of effects on the economy, environment, recreation
opportunities as well as the public's health and safety. It is
important that these effects are considered in setting policy."
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