Royce Yang
A glimpse toward downtown Nashville with multiple tower cranes visible, as photographed on Nov. 3, 2023. (Hustler Multimedia/Royce Yang)
The Fall 2023 Vanderbilt Poll surveyed 1,005 registered voters in Tennessee from Nov. 14 to Dec. 2. With a 3.4% margin of error, the poll found bipartisan support for abortion exceptions and gun safety laws, as well as low approval of the state legislature. Respondents also weighed in on the 2024 presidential election.
The Vanderbilt Poll, conducted by the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions biannually since 2011, is co-directed by political science professor Joshua Clinton and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor John Geer. The poll is conducted via landline and cell phone interviews, with the sample of respondents identified using a registered voter list.
Vanderbilt College Democrats said in an email to The Hustler that the results of the poll show it is important for the state legislature to align itself with Tennessee voters in order to preserve democracy.
“Vanderbilt College Democrats view the Tennessee state legislature’s low approval ratings as indicators of extreme conservative legislators being disconnected from the majority of Tennesseans,” the email reads. “It is imperative for the legislature to prioritize bipartisan, common-sense policies on various issues, such as gun safety, rather than steering our state backward.”
Representatives of the Vanderbilt College Republicans did not respond to The Hustler’s request for comment.
Education
The poll found that 17% of respondents, regardless of party affiliation, view education as a top priority for the Tennessee state government. Clinton said priority is placed on education by voters because it leads to more economic opportunities for children in the future. Republican respondents in the poll voted the economy as the number one issue the legislature should address.
The Tennessee state legislature recently established a task force to explore rejecting the $1.8 billion the state would receive through federal education funding. Conservative politicians in the state legislature dislike the Education Department’s policies under President Biden, especially in regards to explicitly protecting LGBTQ+ minors from discrimination, as required by Title IX. Accepting the funding would require the state to follow federal education guidelines. The polling results saw 58% of registered voters in support of receiving federal funding. This includes 95% of Democratic respondents and 59% of Independent respondents. However, a large majority of MAGA Republicans (65%) favor rejecting the funding.
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