America’s Hidden Common Ground on the Coronavirus Crisis Results from a Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos survey of Americans’ views on reopening their communities May 29, 2020 Americans see the virus as a personal threat: According to a new Public Agenda/USA Today/Ipsos Hidden Common Ground Survey fielded May 22-26, 2020, fewer Americans – when compared to a March 2020 survey – view COVID-19 as a threat to the global economy, the United States, the stock market, their community and themselves personally. Regardless of political affiliation, Americans see the pandemic as more of a threat to their physical health than to their mental health and financial well-being. Somewhat more Democrats (45%) see the virus as a threat to their physical health than Republicans (36%) or Independents (33%). • A large majority of Americans continue to say COVID-19 is a threat to the global economy (72%) and the United States (65%). • As economies across the United States reopen, perceived threat to the stock market from COVID-19 has decreased (58%, down 16 percentage points). This decrease is reflected across party lines: Independents (52%, down 21 percentage points), Democrats (61%, down 20 percentage points), and Republicans (55%, down 13 percentage points). Americans are supporting each other: More Americans report that they have donated money, supplies or time to community members in need (37% in May and 28% in March). Only 13% of Americans – nonetheless representing millions of people – have asked for help from people or organizations in their community. Around 7 in 10 Americans continue to report supporting local businesses since the coronavirus began (75% in May and 69% in March). About half of Americans (48%) have publicly expressed support for health care workers while 16% have expressed their opinion about the pandemic through protests or contacting elected officials. Nearly two thirds of Americans (62%) say there is more common ground on how to address the coronavirus among the American people than the news media and political leaders portray, including 72% of Republicans, 57% of Democrats and 57% of Independents. Cautious optimism about how communities will fare: Americans are cautiously optimistic about the effects of the virus on their communities. A plurality (48%) think their community will suffer in the short term but recover in the long term. More say their community will emerge stronger than ever (15%) than say it will never recover (6%). These findings are similar to those in the March 2020 survey. 1 Americans’ priorities may be shifting towards the economy and away from health: Most Americans (62%) think the government’s priority should be preventing the virus from spreading and keeping people from getting sick or dying – a drop of ten percentage points from March when 72% prioritized preventing the virus from spreading. The May survey finds that almost a third of Americans think the government’s main priority should be keeping the economy strong in order to avoid a recession (29%, up eight percentage points from the March 2020 survey). These changes are due to a dramatic 23-percentage-point decline in the share of Republicans who think the government’s priority should be preventing the virus from spreading and keeping people from getting sick or dying (41% of Republicans in May vs. 64% in March) and a smaller 9- percentage-point decrease for Independents (61% in May vs. 70% in March). Democrats remain statistically unchanged (82% in May vs. 80% in March). Nonetheless, three-quarters of Americans (77%) agree that the economy should be rebooted slowly and carefully to avoid spreading the virus. Majorities of Republicans (69%), Democrats (86%) and Independents (76%) support this approach. Most Americans agree (45% strongly and 24% somewhat) that people who are protesting to reopen states are endangering the lives of others, but more Democrats (84%) and Independents (71%) agree than Republicans (53%). Cross-partisan preferences for states taking the lead on reopening: Across partisan lines, more Americans think that decisions about when and how to reopen economies should be primarily made by state governments, rather than the federal government or local governments. • Two in five Americans (42%) think state governments should decide when and how to reopen economies (35% of Republicans, 50% of Democrats, and 45% of Independents), while 20% say local governments should decide. • Only 16% of Americans say the federal government should take the lead on decisions about reopening, a stark indicator of lack of faith in the federal government. Even fewer think reopening should be up to individuals or businesses (11%). • Half of Americans agree that their state’s response has been less politicized than the federal government response. Most Americans support several approaches to reopening, including cross-partisan support for wearing face coverings in public: Only about one-third of Americans (34%) overall agree that restrictions and closures have been too severe. Just over half of Republicans (54%) say that restrictions have been too severe, but only 21% of Democrats and 32% of Independents agree. Of the several ways in which states are responding to the coronavirus pandemic, self-quarantines, face coverings in public, and social distancing in stores garner the strongest support. • Most Americans (88%) support people self-quarantining for 14 days if they are exposed to the coronavirus, with sweeping support among Republicans (85%), Democrats (90%), and Independents (87%). 2 • A majority of Americans (77%) support the idea that people should wear face coverings in public, including 67% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats and 75% of Independents. • Seventy-six percent of Americans support the idea that stores, restaurants and other businesses in the service industry should reopen but require everyone to stay at least six feet apart. There are no differences by political affiliation in the strength of people’s support for this measure. • Two-thirds of Americans (62%) support the idea that schools should prepare for online and distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents are no more supportive of this idea than non-parents (61% and 64%, respectively). Fewer Republicans (50%) than Democrats (73%) or Independents (61%) support the idea of schools preparing for online learning in the next school year. • A majority of Americans (61%) support the idea that elderly and other at-risk people should stay at home but restrictions on younger, healthier people should be reduced. This idea garners more support among Republicans (72%) than Democrats (54%) or Independents (56%). • The idea for reopening that Democrats and Republicans respond to most differently is prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people until there is a coronavirus treatment or vaccine. A majority of Americans (64%) support this idea. But there is a 29-percentage point difference in support between Republicans (49%) and Democrats (78%), with Independents falling in the middle (62%). Few Americans support jail time or house arrest for violating social distancing rules: • Half of Americans (49%) predict that most or almost all individuals and businesses in their community would follow social distancing measures if the economy in their community reopened with those measures in place. • The most popular way of enforcing all the social distancing measures that this survey asked about is community members encouraging or pressuring others to comply. • However, when it comes to prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people until there is a vaccine, slightly more people think the police should issue a ticket or fine to those who do not comply (31%) than think that community members should encourage and pressure people to comply (28%). • Across the board, Independents are most likely to support community members encouraging and pressuring people to comply as an enforcement method. • More Republicans think that it should be up to individuals or organizations to comply with social distancing in stores (39%), wearing face coverings in public (38%), continued stay-at- home orders for the elderly and at-risk people with reductions for younger and healthier people (41%), and banned gatherings of more than 10 people (39%) when compared to the other enforcement measures. • More Democrats think that community members should encourage and pressure people to comply with social distancing in stores (40%), 14-day quarantines for those exposed (34%), continued stay-at-home orders for elderly and at-risk people with reductions for younger and healthier people (40%) when compared to the other enforcement methods. • More Democrats (36%) support police issuing a ticket or fine for those not wearing a face covering (compared to 19% of Republicans and 28% of Independents). More Democrats (40%) also support police issuing a ticket or fine for those gathering in groups of more than 10 (compared to 21% of Republicans and 25% of Independents). 3 These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between May 22-26, 2020 on behalf of Public Agenda and USA Today. For this survey, a sample of 1,004 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Available online at https://www.publicagenda.org/reports/americas-hidden-common-ground-on-the- coronavirus-crisis-results-from-the-second-wave-of-the-public-agenda-usa-today-ipsos-snapshot- survey/ For full results, please refer to the following questionnaire. 4 Full Annotated Questionnaire: 1. What level of threat do you think the coronavirus or COVID-19 poses to each of the following? Total High Threat Summary Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents (N=1,004) (N=1,002) (N=379) (N=445) (N=107) The global economy 72% 78% 67% 78% 70% The United States 65% 74% 52% 77% 62% The stock market 58% 74% 55% 61% 52% Your community 37% 46% 29% 43% 37% You personally 26% 36% 20% 31% 25% a. You personally Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Very high threat 11% 14% 7% 13% 8% High threat 16% 22% 13% 18% 17% Moderate threat 35% 35% 31% 41% 26% Low threat 21% 21% 25% 19% 17% Very low threat 15% 7% 22% 8% 24% Don’t know 3% 2% 1% 2% 9% High threat (Net) 26% 36% 20% 31% 25% Low threat (Net) 36% 28% 47% 27% 41% b. The United States Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Very high threat 30% 40% 18% 40% 25% High threat 35% 34% 33% 37% 37% Moderate threat 22% 20% 28% 16% 22% Low threat 8% 4% 15% 3% 6% Very low threat 3% 2% 4% 2% 5% Don’t know 2% 1% 1% 1% 5% High threat (Net) 65% 74% 52% 77% 62% Low threat (Net) 11% 6% 20% 5% 11% 5 c. The stock market Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Very high threat 26% 39% 23% 30% 23% High threat 32% 35% 32% 31% 30% Moderate threat 26% 19% 29% 25% 23% Low threat 7% 4% 8% 6% 12% Very low threat 4% 1% 4% 3% 5% Don’t know 6% 2% 4% 5% 7% High threat (Net) 58% 74% 55% 61% 52% Low threat (Net) 11% 5% 12% 9% 17% d. The global economy Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Very high threat 37% 41% 31% 44% 36% High threat 35% 37% 36% 34% 34% Moderate threat 19% 17% 20% 16% 20% Low threat 5% 3% 8% 4% 1% Very low threat 2% 1% 4% 1% 3% Don’t know 3% 1% 2% 2% 6% High threat (Net) 72% 78% 67% 78% 70% Low threat (Net) 7% 3% 11% 5% 4% e. Your community Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Very high threat 15% 20% 9% 20% 10% High threat 23% 26% 20% 24% 27% Moderate threat 35% 39% 33% 37% 35% Low threat 18% 10% 25% 13% 15% Very low threat 6% 3% 10% 3% 7% Don’t know 4% 1% 2% 4% 5% High threat (Net) 37% 46% 29% 43% 37% Low threat (Net) 24% 13% 36% 16% 23% 6 2. Do you see the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic as more of a threat to your physical health, mental health, or financial well-being? (Select one.) Total Republicans Democrats Independents Physical health 39% 36% 45% 33% Mental health 22% 20% 25% 17% Financial well-being 29% 34% 24% 29% Don’t know 10% 9% 6% 21% 3. As you may know, there are several proposals to make changes to the nation’s health care system. In general, which of the following comes closest to your opinion about the country’s current health care system overall? (Select one.) Total Republicans Democrats Independents Leave it the way it is 7% 9% 5% 6% Make minor changes to improve it 21% 31% 17% 12% Make major changes to improve it 40% 31% 47% 47% Redesign it completely 19% 17% 22% 17% Don’t know 12% 11% 9% 19% Leave/Minor Change (Net) 28% 40% 22% 17% Redesign/Major Change (Net) 59% 48% 69% 64% 4. Since the coronavirus crisis began what, if any, of the following have you done? (Select one for each.) Total Yes Summary Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Supported local businesses 75% 69% 79% 76% 64% Publicly expressed support for health care 48% - 47% 52% 46% workers Checked in on elderly or sick neighbors 43% 48% 46% 41% 40% Donated money, supplies or time to help 37% 28% 37% 40% 36% people in your community Potentially exposed yourself to the virus to 17% 20% 15% 21% 10% help other people Received help from people or organizations 16% 16% 13% 19% 11% in your community Expressed your opinion about the pandemic by protesting or by contacting elected 16% - 13% 22% 6% officials Asked for help from people or organizations 13% 14% 10% 17% 6% in your community 7 a. Donated money, supplies or time to help people in your community Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 37% 28% 37% 40% 36% No 58% 70% 61% 55% 62% Don’t know 4% 3% 3% 5% 2% b. Supported local businesses Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 75% 69% 79% 76% 64% No 21% 28% 20% 20% 32% Don’t know 4% 3% 2% 5% 4% c. Checked in on elderly or sick neighbors Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 43% 48% 46% 41% 40% No 53% 50% 51% 55% 56% Don’t know 4% 2% 2% 4% 4% d. Asked for help from people or organizations in your community Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 13% 14% 10% 17% 6% No 83% 85% 89% 79% 91% Don’t know 3% 2% 2% 4% 3% e. Received help from people or organizations in your community Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 16% 16% 13% 19% 11% No 80% 82% 86% 76% 85% Don’t know 4% 3% 1% 5% 4% f. Potentially exposed yourself to the virus to help other people Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 17% 20% 15% 21% 10% No 74% 73% 80% 68% 83% Don’t know 9% 7% 5% 12% 7% 8 g. Publicly expressed support for health care workers Total Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 48% 47% 52% 46% No 48% 50% 45% 47% Don’t know 4% 3% 3% 7% h. Expressed your opinion about the pandemic by protesting or by contacting elected officials Total Republicans Democrats Independents Yes 16% 13% 22% 6% No 80% 85% 74% 88% Don’t know 4% 2% 4% 5% 5. How do you think your community will fare after the coronavirus crisis is over? (Select one) Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents My community will never fully recover 6% 3% 5% 7% 6% My community will suffer in the short- 48% 53% 48% 51% 45% term, but will recover in the long-term My community will only suffer a little 19% 16% 18% 21% 18% My community will emerge stronger 15% 18% 21% 9% 18% than ever Don’t know/Not sure 12% 11% 8% 12% 12% 6. What do you think should be the main priority of the U.S. government during the coronavirus crisis? (Select one) Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Doing everything possible to prevent the coronavirus from spreading and 62% 72% 41% 82% 61% keep people from getting sick and dying Doing everything possible to keep the economy strong and avoid a 29% 21% 50% 14% 27% recession Don’t know 9% 7% 9% 4% 11% 9 7. Thinking about the coronavirus crisis, how much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (Select one for each) Total Agree Summary Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents We should reboot the economy slowly and carefully to avoid 77% 83% 69% 86% 76% spreading the virus and endangering lives People protesting to reopen states 69% - 53% 84% 71% are endangering the lives of others There is more common ground on how to address the coronavirus among the American people than 62% - 72% 57% 57% the news media and political leaders portray The coronavirus pandemic is 61% - 62% 66% 48% bringing out the worst in Americans My state’s response has been less politicized than the federal 50% - 45% 58% 48% government response The coronavirus pandemic is 46% - 57% 40% 43% bringing out the best in Americans Restrictions and closures have been 34% - 54% 21% 32% too severe a. We should reboot the economy slowly and carefully to avoid spreading the virus and endangering lives Total March 27-30 Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 45% 44% 32% 59% 37% Somewhat agree 32% 40% 37% 26% 38% Somewhat disagree 10% 7% 17% 6% 11% Strongly disagree 7% 4% 10% 5% 4% Don’t know 6% 6% 5% 4% 9% Agree (Net) 77% 83% 69% 86% 76% Disagree (Net) 17% 11% 27% 10% 15% 10 b. Restrictions and closures have been too severe Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 15% 24% 8% 14% Somewhat agree 20% 30% 13% 17% Somewhat disagree 26% 23% 28% 34% Strongly disagree 33% 18% 46% 29% Don’t know 6% 5% 5% 6% Agree (Net) 34% 54% 21% 32% Disagree (Net) 59% 42% 74% 62% c. People protesting to reopen states are endangering the lives of others Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 45% 26% 62% 52% Somewhat agree 24% 27% 22% 19% Somewhat disagree 13% 20% 7% 13% Strongly disagree 11% 20% 5% 9% Don’t know 7% 7% 4% 7% Agree (Net) 69% 53% 84% 71% Disagree (Net) 24% 40% 11% 22% d. My state’s response has been less politicized than the federal government response Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 19% 14% 25% 12% Somewhat agree 32% 31% 33% 36% Somewhat disagree 19% 21% 17% 23% Strongly disagree 17% 22% 13% 14% Don’t know 14% 12% 12% 15% Agree (Net) 50% 45% 58% 48% Disagree (Net) 36% 43% 30% 37% e. There is more common ground on how to address the coronavirus among the American people than the news media and political leaders portray Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 22% 31% 17% 16% Somewhat agree 40% 41% 40% 41% Somewhat disagree 16% 13% 18% 18% Strongly disagree 7% 4% 10% 7% Don’t know 15% 11% 15% 19% Agree (Net) 62% 72% 57% 57% Disagree (Net) 24% 17% 28% 24% 11 f. The coronavirus pandemic is bringing out the best in Americans Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 9% 12% 8% 6% Somewhat agree 37% 45% 32% 37% Somewhat disagree 26% 27% 26% 24% Strongly disagree 17% 8% 25% 19% Don’t know 10% 8% 9% 14% Agree (Net) 46% 57% 40% 43% Disagree (Net) 44% 35% 52% 43% g. The coronavirus pandemic is bringing out the worst in Americans Total Republicans Democrats Independents Strongly agree 24% 18% 31% 20% Somewhat agree 36% 44% 35% 28% Somewhat disagree 24% 26% 21% 34% Strongly disagree 8% 10% 6% 13% Don’t know 6% 2% 7% 5% Agree (Net) 61% 62% 66% 48% Disagree (Net) 33% 36% 27% 47% 8. Should decisions about when and how to reopen primarily by the federal government, state governments, local governments, or by individuals and businesses? Total Republicans Democrats Independents State governments 42% 35% 50% 45% Local governments 20% 22% 18% 20% Federal government 16% 17% 17% 8% Individuals and businesses 11% 17% 5% 13% Don’t know 12% 10% 9% 14% 12 9. Here are several ways in which some states are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Thinking about your state, please indicate how you feel about each of the following measures. (Select one for each.) Total Would Support Summary Total Republicans Democrats Independents People should self-quarantine for 14 days if they 88% 85% 90% 87% are exposed to the coronavirus People should wear face coverings in public (sidewalks, stores, beaches, malls, restaurants, 77% 67% 87% 75% etc.) Stores, restaurants and other businesses in the service industry should reopen, but require 76% 80% 74% 78% everyone to stay at least six feet apart Gatherings of more than 10 people should be prohibited until there is a coronavirus treatment or 64% 49% 78% 62% vaccine Schools should prepare for online and distance 62% 50% 73% 61% learning for the 2020-2021 school year Elderly and other at-risk people should stay at home but restrictions on younger, healthier people 61% 72% 54% 56% should be reduced 13 a. Stores, restaurants and other businesses in the service industry should reopen, but require everyone to stay at least six feet apart Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 32% 35% 31% 30% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 44% 45% 43% 48% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 13% 10% 16% 9% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 6% 6% 6% 3% support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 5% 3% 4% 10% Would support (Net) 76% 80% 74% 78% Would not support (Net) 19% 16% 22% 11% b. Schools should prepare for online and distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 32% 25% 39% 29% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 30% 25% 34% 32% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 19% 23% 17% 17% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 11% 20% 4% 9% support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 8% 7% 6% 13% Would support (Net) 62% 50% 73% 61% Would not support (Net) 30% 43% 21% 26% c. People should self-quarantine for 14 days if they are exposed to the coronavirus Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 70% 64% 76% 61% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 18% 21% 14% 26% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 6% 9% 5% 5% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 2% 3% 2% * support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 4% 3% 3% 8% Would support (Net) 88% 85% 90% 87% Would not support (Net) 8% 12% 7% 5% 14 d. People should wear face coverings in public (sidewalks, stores, beaches, malls, restaurants, etc.) Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 52% 41% 65% 45% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 25% 26% 22% 30% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 10% 15% 6% 10% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 8% 13% 3% 6% support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 5% 4% 3% 10% Would support (Net) 77% 67% 87% 75% Would not support (Net) 18% 29% 10% 15% e. Elderly and other at-risk people should stay at home but restrictions on younger, healthier people should be reduced Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 29% 35% 23% 33% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 32% 36% 30% 23% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 22% 13% 27% 29% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 11% 9% 14% 6% support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 7% 6% 6% 8% Would support (Net) 61% 72% 54% 56% Would not support (Net) 32% 22% 41% 36% f. Gatherings of more than 10 people should be prohibited until there is a coronavirus treatment or vaccine Total Republicans Democrats Independents It sounds very good to me, and I would support it 34% 25% 44% 23% It sounds somewhat good to me, and I would 30% 24% 34% 39% probably support it It does not sound very good to me, and I would 19% 27% 13% 18% probably not support it It does not sound good at all, and I would not 11% 18% 5% 10% support it Don’t know/Don’t have enough information to say 6% 5% 3% 10% Would support (Net) 64% 49% 78% 62% Would not support (Net) 30% 46% 18% 28% 15 10. If the economy in your community reopens with social distancing measures, how many individuals and businesses do you think would follow them? Total Republicans Democrats Independents Almost all 17% 23% 13% 20% Most 32% 35% 29% 35% About half 28% 23% 33% 27% Less than half 11% 10% 14% 9% Almost none 5% 4% 6% 4% Don’t know 6% 5% 6% 4% Almost all/Most (Net) 49% 57% 42% 55% Almost none/Less than half (Net) 17% 14% 19% 13% 11. If the following measures to control the coronavirus outbreak were put into place in your community, how should they be enforced? (Select one for each.) Let Individuals or Organizations Decide for Themselves Summary Total Republicans Democrats Independents Stay-at-home orders for the elderly and other at- risk people while reducing restrictions on younger, 29% 41% 19% 31% healthier people Reopen stores, restaurants and other businesses in the service industry, but require everyone to 25% 39% 12% 24% stay at least six feet apart Face coverings worn in public (sidewalks, stores, 24% 38% 13% 22% beaches, malls, restaurants, etc.) Prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people until 22% 39% 8% 27% there is a coronavirus treatment or vaccine 14-day self-quarantine for people exposed to the 17% 25% 9% 22% coronavirus a. Reopen stores, restaurants and other businesses in the service industry, but require everyone to stay at least six feet apart Total Republicans Democrats Independents Let individuals or organizations decide for 25% 39% 12% 24% themselves Community members should encourage and 35% 30% 40% 35% pressure people to comply The police should issue a ticket or fine to those 23% 16% 30% 18% who do not comply Place individuals or business owners under house 6% 4% 7% 8% arrest Jail individuals or business owner if they do not 3% 3% 3% 3% comply Don’t know 8% 8% 7% 12% 16 b. 14-day self-quarantine for people exposed to the coronavirus Total Republicans Democrats Independents Let individuals or organizations decide for 17% 25% 9% 22% themselves Community members should encourage and 33% 36% 34% 33% pressure people to comply The police should issue a ticket or fine to those 22% 17% 26% 22% who do not comply Place individuals or business owners under house 14% 10% 17% 15% arrest Jail individuals or business owner if they do not 6% 5% 8% 2% comply Don’t know 8% 7% 7% 7% c. Face coverings worn in public (sidewalks, stores, beaches, malls, restaurants, etc.) Total Republicans Democrats Independents Let individuals or organizations decide for 24% 38% 13% 22% themselves Community members should encourage and 32% 30% 34% 35% pressure people to comply The police should issue a ticket or fine to those 28% 19% 36% 28% who do not comply Place individuals or business owners under house 5% 4% 7% 3% arrest Jail individuals or business owner if they do not 3% 3% 4% 2% comply Don’t know 7% 6% 6% 11% d. Stay-at-home orders for the elderly and other at-risk people while reducing restrictions on younger, healthier people Total Republicans Democrats Independents Let individuals or organizations decide for 29% 41% 19% 31% themselves Community members should encourage and 36% 32% 40% 40% pressure people to comply The police should issue a ticket or fine to those 15% 13% 19% 10% who do not comply Place individuals or business owners under house 5% 3% 7% 3% arrest Jail individuals or business owner if they do not 2% 1% 3% 2% comply Don’t know 13% 10% 12% 15% 17 e. Prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people until there is a coronavirus treatment or vaccine Total Republicans Democrats Independents Let individuals or organizations decide for 22% 39% 8% 27% themselves Community members should encourage and 28% 24% 33% 27% pressure people to comply The police should issue a ticket or fine to those 31% 21% 40% 25% who do not comply Place individuals or business owners under house 6% 5% 7% 7% arrest Jail individuals or business owner if they do not 4% 3% 5% 3% comply Don’t know 9% 8% 7% 10% 12. In general, do you think America deals with disagreements in a mostly constructive or mostly destructive way? (Select one.)’ Total Republicans Democrats Independents Mostly constructive 4% 6% 3% 3% More constructive than destructive 15% 20% 13% 14% Neither constructive nor destructive 18% 19% 15% 27% More destructive than constructive 39% 34% 45% 37% Mostly destructive 14% 11% 17% 12% Don’t know 10% 10% 7% 8% Constructive (Net) 20% 26% 16% 17% Destructive (Net) 53% 46% 62% 48% 18 About the Study These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between May 22-26, 2020, on behalf of Public Agenda and USA Today. For this survey, a sample of roughly 1,004 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 379 Republicans, 445 Democrats, and 107 Independents. The first wave was conducted between March 27-30, 2020, among roughly 1,002 American adults. The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2016 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Posthoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,004, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.0 percentage points). The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points for Republicans, plus or minus 5.3 percentage points for Democrats, and plus or minus 10.8 percentage points for Independents. Additionally, the first wave has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. For more information on this news release, please contact: Chris Jackson Senior Vice President, US Public Affairs +1 202 420-2025 chris.jackson@ipsos.com Kate Silverstein Media Relations Specialist, US Public Affairs +1 718 755-8829 kate.silverstein@ipsos.com 19 About Ipsos Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi- specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com About the Hidden Common Ground Initiative The Hidden Common Ground Initiative focuses on underappreciated and under-leveraged areas of agreement among the public on solutions to tough public problems, like health care and criminal justice. HCG 2020 is the election-year iteration of the initiative, spearheaded by Public Agenda and USA Today, with The National Issues Forums (NIF), Ipsos, and the America Amplified: Election 2020 Public Media Collaborative. It applies the HCG mission to an array of election year issues via nonpartisan research, national and local journalism, community-based and online deliberative forums, and “Strange Bedfellows” storytelling and events. Hidden Common Ground is supported by a diverse group of foundations, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Charles Koch Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, as well as through the generosity of individual donors. In addition, the Kettering Foundation is a research partner of the initiative. 20