Wilder School Public Policy Poll
Twice a year, the Office of Public Policy Outreach provides policymakers with an up-to-date snapshot of public opinion via our Public Policy Poll.
The poll measures public opinion on current policy issues in the commonwealth, including economic and workforce development, public safety, education and mental health.
Winter 2018-19 Public Policy Poll
Individual releases from the the Winter 2018-19 Wilder School Public Policy Poll are available in PDF form below as they are released. If a different version is needed for greater accessibility, please contact us.
Individual releases on different topics are as follows:
- Dec. 20, 2018 - In 2018 elections, plurality of Virginia voters focused on responding to Trump administration;
- Jan. 4, 2019 - Quarter of Virginians don’t know which party they want to win control of General Assembly in 2019;
- Jan. 8, 2019 - Virginians evenly divided on the idea of armed teachers;
- Jan. 10, 2019 - Virginians narrowly support public investment to land Amazon HQ2
Summer 2018 Public Policy Poll
The full results of the Summer 2018 Wilder School Public Policy Poll from all releases are available in PDF form. If a different version is needed for greater accessibility, please contact us.
Individual releases on different topics are as follows:
- August 8 - Kaine leads U.S. Senate race by 23 points;
- August 10 - VCU poll: Police should have ability to restrict weapons at protests, other public demonstrations
- August 14 - Virginians see schools as safe, look increasingly to mental health approaches to school safety
- August 16 - Majority of Virginians see community colleges, public universities as worth the cost
- August 23 - Virginians support community-based treatment programs for non-violent offenders
Winter 2017-18 Public Policy Poll
The full results of the Winter 2017-18 Winter Public Policy Poll are available in PDF form. If a different version is needed for greater accessibility, please contact us.
Individual releases on different topics are as follows:
- January 25 - Public safety only Virginia program area viewed by majority as efficient in using taxpayer funds
- January 23 - Treatment centers, housing for those in opioid recovery supported by large majority of Virginians
- January 16 - Half of Virginia adults would oppose a ban on anthem protests in public school sports
- January 9 - Almost half of Virginians want Confederate monuments left in place, remainder split on actions
- January 5 - More Virginia voters pulled lever in response to Trump administration than monuments
Summer 2017 Public Policy Poll
The Wilder School Public Policy Poll - Summer 2017 surveyed Virginians on current policy topics, including:
- Public school performance and freedom of expression in campus environments
- Financial incentives to attract businesses to Virginia and familiarity with key economic development policies
- Immigration enforcement and the welcoming of refugees from Muslim-majority countries
- Voting intentions for statewide Virginia electoral races
Winter 2016-17 Public Policy Poll - Public Safety
The Wilder School Public Policy Poll - Winter 2017 Public Safety report shares results on current public safety policy topics, including:
- perceptions of police performance
- ideal policies for combating opioid use
- weekend jail sentencing for felons
- fear of terrorist attacks
Commonwealth Education Poll
The Commonwealth Education Poll, created in 2000 as a stand-alone poll and merged with the Public Policy Poll in 2017, incorporates regular education questions into our survey.
As a project of OPPO’s Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute, the Commonwealth Education Poll has a long history of surveying public opinion on education issues such as K-12 funding, school safety and teacher pay.
In 2008, the poll expanded its original focus on K-12 policy issues by including higher education in Virginia.