Home » Midterm Election Voters Reject Cuts to Social Security

85% of voters polled are opposed to cutting Social Security.

2010 Midterm Voters support
changing the Social Security tax cap over cutting benefits by 55% to 4%

Republicans, by a margin of 2 to 1, support
changing the Social Security tax cap over raising the retirement age.

"The Deficit Commission does not speak for the American people. Our poll clearly shows that all voters, even conservatives, don't want to see any cuts to Social Security. If Congress wants to fix the deficit, they should start by letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire."
                         -Jim Dean, Chair - Democracy for America

1: Think back to election day 2 years ago, when Barack Obama ran against John McCain. Did you vote for Barack Obama in that election? Did you vote for John McCain? Or did you not get the chance to vote?

1252 AdultsAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 2.8%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Obama42%39%44%5%96%48%
McCain41%42%39%95%4%52%
Did Not Vote15%15%15%---
Not Sure2%3%2%---

2: In today's election ... did you get a chance to vote today? Did you vote ahead of time, through early or absentee voting? Or did you not get a chance to vote?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 2.9%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Voted Today69%71%67%65%66%75%
Ahead Of Time21%20%23%27%20%18%
Did Not Get a Chance10%10%10%8%14%8%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%

3: What was the single largest reason you DID vote in this election? Because it's your civic duty? Because your vote was important to one particular Republican candidate? Because your vote was important to one particular Democratic candidate? Because your vote was important to putting Congress in the hands of Republicans? Because your vote was important to keeping Congress in the hands of Democrats? Or for some other reason?

930 Who VotedAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.3%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Civic Duty41%44%39%32%39%50%
Particular Republican4%4%4%8%2%3%
Particular Democratic8%7%9%5%12%7%
Republican Congress27%28%27%53%6%24%
Democratic Congress16%15%17%1%38%11%
Other4%3%4%3%3%5%
Not Sure0%0%0%0%0%0%
Composition of Who Voted100%49%51%29%30%40%

4: Do you consider yourself ... a strong Republican? A Republican? An Independent who leans Republican? An Independent? An Independent who leans Democratic? A Democrat? Or a strong Democrat?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.1%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Strong Republican15%14%16%52%0%0%
Republican14%14%14%48%0%0%
Indy Leans Republican17%20%15%0%0%43%
Independent10%14%7%0%0%26%
Indy Leans Democratic12%12%12%0%0%30%
Democrat16%13%19%0%50%0%
Strong Democrat16%14%18%0%50%0%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%

5: Which of the following statements do you agree with more: To reduce the federal budget deficit... Congress should let the tax cuts for the wealthy expire as planned? Congress should cut Social Security benefits? Or, do you agree with neither?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.1%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Let The Tax Cuts For The Wealthy Expire40%38%42%17%61%40%
Cut Social Security Benefits4%6%3%6%2%4%
Neither56%57%56%78%37%56%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%

6: Which of these statements best describes your views on Social Security: Congress should make up for possible budget gaps by cutting Social Security benefits? Congress should make up for possible budget gaps by changing the social security tax to also apply to income above $108,000, which currently is not taxed by Social Security? Or, Congress should not make any changes to Social Security?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.1%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Cutting Social Security Benefits4%4%3%5%1%5%
Changing The Social Security Tax55%58%52%44%59%59%
Not Make Any Changes31%28%33%40%28%26%
Not Sure11%10%11%12%11%9%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%

7: OK, which of THESE statements best describes your views on Social Security: Congress should make up for possible budget gaps by raising the Social Security retirement age? Congress should make up for possible budget gaps by changing the social security tax to also apply to income above $108,000, which currently is not taxed by Social Security? Or, Congress should not make any changes to Social Security?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.1%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
Raising Retirement Age13%14%11%18%7%14%
Changing The Social Security Tax54%56%53%40%60%60%
Not Make Any Changes25%23%27%33%23%21%
Not Sure8%7%9%9%11%5%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%

8: US Senate "filibuster" rules allow any Senator to block a bill that does not have a 60 vote super majority. If Congress changed the filibuster rules to make it harder to block a bill this way, would that make you ... more likely to vote for Democrats? Less likely to vote for Democrats? Or would it have no effect either way?

1030 Election-2008 VotersAllGenderParty
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.1%MaleFemaleRepublicanDemocratIndepend
More Likely17%18%17%2%33%16%
Less Likely23%28%19%37%6%27%
No Effect52%48%55%56%47%53%
Not Sure8%6%9%5%15%4%
Composition of Election-2008 Voters100%49%51%29%32%39%


Overview: 1,252 USA adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA on Election Day 11/02/10. Of the adults, 1,030 voted in the 2008 presidential election, and of 2008 voters, 930 also voted in today's 2010 midterm election.

Statement of Methodology