27 March 2018 :

In a simple question, American voters support the death penalty 58 - 33 percent for persons convicted of murder, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today. But when offered a choice between the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole, American voters choose the life option 51 - 37 percent, the first time a majority of voters backed the life without parole option since the independent Quinnipiac University Poll first asked this question in 2004. There are deep party and gender divisions as Republicans back the death penalty 59 - 29 percent. Backing the life option are Democrats 73 - 19 percent and independent voters 49 - 37 percent. Women back the life option 56 - 33 percent. Men are divided as 45 percent back the life option and 42 percent support the death penalty. Although the Trump administration called on U.S. attorneys this week to consider using the death penalty in some drug-related cases, American voters are united as they oppose 71 - 21 percent. Opponents to President Donald Trump's plan to use the death penalty for drug dealers tied to overdose deaths included a majority of Republicans, 57 %; Democrats, 87 %; and independents, 69 %. Voters say 75 - 20 percent that this use of the death penalty would not help stop the opioid crisis. But voters say 64 - 31 percent that the death penalty should not be abolished nationwide. Democrats are divided as 47 percent say abolish the death penalty and 46 percent say don't abolish it. Every other listed party, gender, education, age and racial group is opposed to abolishing the death penalty. The poll, which surveyed nearly 1,300 voters via telephone from March 16 to 20, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 % points.