West Virginia Chamber Releases New Polling Information on Key Issues

September 6, 2022

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is releasing new polling information on the feelings of West Virginia voters heading into the 2022 Midterm Elections. The survey, conducted by North Star Opinion Research, talked to 600 respondents with a partisan breakdown as follows: Republican (251), Democrat (137), Independent (184).

West Virginia Chamber President Steve Roberts stated, “Periodically the Chamber likes to check the pulse of the state’s citizenry on a host of major issues. The responses given by the voters of West Virginia on this survey were quite fascinating, but not terribly surprising given recent trends. One major takeaway is that our voters hold nuanced views on some of the most controversial issues.”

Following the Dobbs Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court which overturned Roe v. Wade, the West Virginia Legislature has been contemplating the passage of a new law governing abortions in the state. 51% of West Virginians consider themselves pro-life, while 45% consider themselves pro-choice. As for what specific policy the state should adopt, voters are much more divided but tend to believe a policy should contain various considerations. Eighteen percent believe abortion should be completely legal in all circumstances, and thirteen percent believe it should be illegal in all circumstances. Of note, Republican voters consider themselves to be much more pro-life than pro-choice (77% – 20%), but less than 1 in 5 of those voters would support a law that did not create exemptions for rape, incest and the life and health of the mother.

Another topic explored by the West Virginia Chamber was on the issue of school choice, particularly vouchers that are similar to the Hope Scholarship program that is currently tied up in the Courts. When presented with arguments for and against providing funding to parents who choose an alternate method of education, 55% of voters favored the program while 41% opposed. Among Republican voters and those who do not have a party affiliation, support was above 60%.

West Virginia Chamber President Steve Roberts stated, “These two topics are some of the most controversial issues underway, but it’s clear that the voters have put serious thought into these. The Chamber will continue to release additional results of the poll in the near future, and we hope that information provides guidance to policy-makers as they address these topics.”

Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are your small business neighbors. Chamber members employ over half of our state’s workforce and are found in every county and region of our state. More information on the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.wvchamber.com.