Poll: 49 Percent of New Yorkers Say Census Question 'Bad Idea'

Forty-nine percent of New Yorkers say a Census question asking residents if they are citizens is a “bad idea,” a new Quinnipiac University poll reveals.

Only 29 percent say it is a “good idea.”

Here are some of the survey highlights released Thursday:

• 87 percent say that undocumented immigrants would be discouraged from participating in the Census if it included the citizenship question, compared to 9 percent who disagree.
• 61 percent say the question would discourage legal non-citizens from taking part in the Census, while 30 percent disagree.
• 44 percent of all New Yorkers say they know someone they believe would be discouraged from completing the form if the question was included.

“New Yorkers have a clear message for the federal government: if you want an accurate count of the population, don't ask a citizenship question," said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac University Poll.

The poll of New Yorker City adults, conducted Nov. 27-Dec. 4, surveyed 1,339 people. It has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

• House Democrats Move to Stop Census Citizenship Question
• Judge Rejects Citizenship Question for 2020 US Census