Memo: Majority of Voters Support a Guaranteed Income
By Evangel Penumaka, Isa Alomran, and Abby Steckel
Introduction
As the U.S. starts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, several cities are launching initiatives to address the economic and financial inequalities that the pandemic made glaringly visible. Following the example of a two-year pilot program started in Stockton, California by Mayor Michael Tubbs, these cities plan to conduct their own pilot guaranteed income programs providing direct, long-term payments to adults with no strings attached.
In a late-June survey of 1,137 likely voters, Data for Progress and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income examined likely voter attitudes towards a guaranteed income. We also examined support for a guaranteed income that is currently being implemented at a national scale: the Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion. Implemented through the American Rescue Plan, the expanded credit will provide up to $300 per month to most families through December 2021. This memo highlights key findings from our polling, which can be found here.
We find that a majority of likely voters support a guaranteed income policy in general, as well as the guaranteed income provided through the CTC. Voters also believe that a guaranteed income would have positive impacts, such as helping people prepare for financial emergencies. Our survey findings show that public opinion is on the side of city and policy leaders working to implement a guaranteed income locally and on a national scale.
