CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

Americans Divided over Transgender Bathroom Laws; Also Split on a Senate Vote on Merrick Garland
May 13-17, 2016
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
50
12
87
42
43
83
10
47
7
5
3
11

Apr16a
%
46
45
9

Q2. Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously
gotten off on the wrong track?
Right direction
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer

30
63
7

9
89
2

51
40
9

25
66
9

30
66
4

Q3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

42
48
11

10
84
7

71
18
11

37
50
13

39
47
14

Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

47
47
6

11
86
3

80
14
5

42
49
8

46
48
6

Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

14
77
9

12
79
9

13
80
7

15
73
12

14
77
9

Q6. Barack Obama has nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. What do you think the Senate should do
should the Senate hold a vote on whether to confirm Merrick Garland or should the Senate wait until next year for the
new president to nominate someone?

Vote on nominee
Wait until next year
Don't know/No answer

48
45
7

22
72
6

69
26
5

46
44
11

Mar16d
53
42
5

Q7. Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in Washington enthusiastic, satisfied but not
enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

Enthusiastic
Satisfied but not enthusiastic
Dissatisfied but not angry
Angry
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
2
1
4
2
19
8
29
16
50
52
48
50
26
38
16
28
3
2
3
4

Dec15a
%
1
12
53
31
3

Q8-Q56 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

Q57. Do you think people who are transgender--that is, someone who identifies themselves as the sex or gender
different from the one they were born asshould be allowed to use the public bathrooms of the gender they identify
with or should they have to use the public bathrooms of the gender they were born as?
Born as
Identified as
Don't know/No answer

46
41
12

65
22
13

29
60
11

49
38
13

Q58. Do you think guidelines regarding which bathroom transgendered students can use in public schools should be
determined by the federal government or left to each individual state or local government to decide?
Individual state or local government
Federal government
Both (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

57
35
*
8

Total Respondents

UNWEIGHTED
1,300

Republicans
Democrats
Independents

378
415
507

77
18
*
5

42
51
1
6

57
31
1
11

WEIGHTED

333
448
519