Religion not a Critical Factor for Latino Voters.

impreMedia announced the results of a national tracking poll focused on religion and social values.

“These results make clear that this election will not be a referendum on moral issues even though much is being made about the religious beliefs of some of the leading candidates. Latinos continue to be overwhelmingly concerned about jobs, the economy and immigration”

The survey was conducted by impreMedia and Latino Decisions between November and early December. The poll revealed that a majority of Latino voters, 53%, stated that religion does not have an impact on their voting preference, while 40% of respondents indicated that it does have an impact. However, when voters are broken down among parties, religion plays a much larger role for Latino Republicans, with 47% indicating that religion does make an impact on their electoral decisions.

When asked if the candidate’s religion had an impact on their vote, 55% of respondents said that it had no impact at all; compared to 43% who believed it does have an impact.

The results further indicate that social and moral values are not top priorities among Latino voters. Overwhelmingly 75% of respondents indicated that the economy, jobs and taxes are among the crucial issues that are important to them, while only 14% indicated social values issues such as abortion, family values and same sex marriage are important.

“These results make clear that this election will not be a referendum on moral issues even though much is being made about the religious beliefs of some of the leading candidates. Latinos continue to be overwhelmingly concerned about jobs, the economy and immigration,” said Monica Lozano, CEO of impreMedia.

On the topic of immigration, the survey indicates a clear support for churches and religious leaders who support undocumented immigrants. Sixty-six percent of Latino voters indicated that churches should help illegal immigrants, while 21% opposed. When the respondents are broken down between US born and foreign-born Latinos, the survey found that 75% of US born Latino citizens supported church assistance for undocumented immigrants while 56% of those that are foreign born supported the view.

These voters in general, want church and electoral politics separate, a majority of 63% indicated that no religious leader, minister or rabbi should tell them which candidate to vote for.

When asked about President Obama’s religion stance, 48% of Latino voters indicated that they did not know his religion. Fifty-eight percent of voters indicated the same response when asked about Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

“The data indicate quite clearly that religious preferences are not central to Latino evaluations of the candidates, or in the electoral arena. Although Latino voters are quite religious, they are telling us that economic concerns and immigration concerns, and issues such as education and health care matter much more than social values.” said Matt Barreto, Latino Decisions.

The survey further revealed that Latino voters have a vague view on Mormonism, with 58% indicated that they are not familiar, 27% are a little familiar and 13% are very familiar. Mormonism is a topic that is likely to be relevant in the general election if Romney is the Republican nominee.

Forty percent of Latino voters stated that Mormonism is not a Christian religion, and 31% say that it is and 27% say that they do not know. The results indicate that religion does not seem to have a determinant effect on the Latino vote. It is not clear if it could have a negative effect on Latino voters that are Republican or Independents.

A sampling of results is below:

When thinking about who to vote for in next year’s election, how much will your religious beliefs shape your vote? Would you say they will have a big impact, a small impact, or no effect at all on who you vote for?

o Big impact: 23% (25% U.S. Born/20% Foreign born)
o Small impact: 17% (17% U.S. Born/17% Foreign born)
o No impact at all : 53% (50% U.S. Born/58% Foreign born)
o Don’t know : 5% (8% U.S. Born/3% Foreign born)

How about the CANDIDATE’S beliefs? How important is it that a candidate shares your same religious beliefs in deciding whether or not you vote for them? Would you say that a CANDIDATE’S belief will have a big impact, or no effect on who you vote for?

o Big impact: 19% (24% U.S. Born/14% Foreign born)
o Small impact: 24% (16% U.S. Born/31% Foreign born)
o No impact at all : 55% (56% U.S. Born/54% Foreign born)
o Don’t know : 3% (5% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)

How familiar would you say you are with the religious beliefs of the Mormon faith, also called the “Latter-Day Saints Church”? Would you say you are very familiar, somewhat familiar, not very familiar, or not at all familiar with Mormonism?

o Very familiar: 13% (10% U.S. Born/17% Foreign born)
o Somewhat familiar: 27% (19% U.S. Born/34% Foreign born)
o Not very familiar : 14% (10% U.S. Born/19% Foreign born)
o Not at all familiar: 44% (59% U.S. Born/29% Foreign born)

Based on what you have read or heard about Mormons, Do you think their religion is a Christian religion, or do you think it is not a Christian religion?

o Is a Christian religion: 31% (26% U.S. Born/36% Foreign born)
o Is not a Christian religion: 40% (38% U.S. Born/39% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 27% (33% U.S. Born/22% Foreign born)

How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is a good thing when religious leaders—priests, ministers, preachers and rabbis—tell their members which candidate they should vote for.

o Strongly agree: 6% (8% U.S. Born/3% Foreign born)
o Somewhat agree: 9% (9% U.S. Born/9% Foreign born)
o Somewhat disagree: 19% (17% U.S. Born/21% Foreign born)
o Strongly disagree: 63% (62% U.S. Born/65% Foreign born)

Now we would like to know your reaction to different statements. After each pair of statements, please tell me which comes closer to your way of thinking. First two statements: 1)Politics is more about economic issues such as jobs, taxes, gas prices, and the minimum wage; 2) Politics is more about moral issues such as abortion, family values, and same sex marriage.

o Economic issues: 75% (76% U.S. Born/75% Foreign born)
o Moral issues: 14% (11% U.S. Born/16% Foreign born)
o Both: 7% (7% U.S. Born/7% Foreign born)
o Neither/something else: 1% (2% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 2% (3% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)

How about: 1) Churches or religious leaders should provide assistance to undocumented immigrants even if providing such help is against the law in some states; 2) Churches have a responsibility to follow the law, so they should not provide assistance to undocumented immigrants.

o Churches should help illegal immigrants: 66% (75% U.S. Born/56% Foreign born)
o Churches should not help illegal immigrants: 21% (14% U.S. Born/28% Foreign born)
o Both: 2% (3% U.S. Born/2% Foreign born)
o Neither/something else: 4% (2% U.S. Born/6% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 6% (5% U.S. Born/7% Foreign born)

Apart from occasional weddings, baptisms, or funerals, how often do you attend church or religious services? Is it once a week or more, almost every week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, once a year or less or never?

o Once a week or more: 27% (25% U.S. Born/26% Foreign born)
o Almost every week: 19% (28% U.S. Born/11% Foreign born)
o Once or twice a month: 13% (16% U.S. Born/11% Foreign born)
o A few times a year: 18% (14% U.S. Born/22% Foreign born)
o Once a year or less: 6% (3% U.S. Born/10% Foreign born)
o Never: 12% (8% U.S. Born/16% Foreign born)

Regardless of how often you attend church, would you say religion provides a great deal, quite a bit, some, or no guidance at all in your day-to-day living?

o A great deal: 33% (29% U.S. Born/35% Foreign born)
o Quite a bit: 27% (29% U.S. Born/23% Foreign born)
o Some: 24% (23% U.S. Born/26% Foreign born)
o No guidance at all: 9% (9% U.S. Born/11% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 6% (11% U.S. Born/5% Foreign born)

Do you consider yourself a born-again, spirit-filled Christian or involved in the charismatic movement?

o Yes: 39% (36% U.S. Born/28% Foreign born)
o No: 53% (51% U.S. Born/66% Foreign born)

Do you happen to know President Barack Obama’s religion? Just tell me what you think his religion is.

o Protestant: 11% (9% U.S. Born/13% Foreign born)
o Roman Catholic: 7% (12% U.S. Born/3% Foreign born)
o Jewish: 0% (0% U.S. Born/0% Foreign born)
o Mormon: 1% (1% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)
o Islam/Muslim: 12% (11% U.S. Born/13% Foreign born)
o Other religion: 18% (12% U.S. Born/23% Foreign born)
o No religion, not a believer, atheist, agnostic: 1% (1% U.S. Born/2% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 48% (52% U.S. Born/43% Foreign born)

And how about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney? Just tell me what you think his religion is.

o Protestant: 5% (4% U.S. Born/6% Foreign born)
o Roman Catholic: 4% (6% U.S. Born/3% Foreign born)
o Jewish: 0% (0% U.S. Born/0% Foreign born)
o Mormon: 25% (22% U.S. Born/29% Foreign born)
o Islam/Muslim: 0% (0% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)
o Other religion: 5% (3% U.S. Born/7% Foreign born)
o No religion, not a believer, atheist, agnostic: 1% (0% U.S. Born/1% Foreign born)
o Don’t know: 58% (62% U.S. Born/53% Foreign born)

For more information at http://www.impremedia.com