The ANES Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior
Summary Evaluations
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Presidential Candidates 1968 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Vice-Presidential Candidates 1968 - 2024
Candidate Affect
Has Democratic Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Angry 1980 - 2016
Has Democratic Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Afraid 1980 - 2016
Has Democratic Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Hopeful 1980 - 2016
Has Democratic Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Proud 1980 - 2016
Has Republican Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Angry 1980 - 2016
Has Republican Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Afraid 1980 - 2016
Has Republican Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Hopeful 1980 - 2016
Has Republican Presidential Candidate Made Respondent Feel Proud 1980 - 2016
Candidate Traits
Democratic Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership (4-Point Scale) 1980 - 2008
Democratic Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership 1980 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You (4-Point Scale) 1984 - 2008
Democratic Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You 1984 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable (4-Point Scale) 1980 - 2008
Democratic Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable 1980 - 2024
Democratic Presidential Candidate Is Honest 2008 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership (4-Point Scale) 1980 - 2008
Republican Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Provides Strong Leadership 1980 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You (4-Point Scale) 1984 - 2008
Republican Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Really Cares About People Like You 1984 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable (4-Point Scale) 1980 - 2008
Republican Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable (5-Point Scale) 2008 - 2024
Republican Presidential Candidate Is Knowledgeable 1980 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer rating Toward House Candidates 1978 - 2024
Net Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward House Candidates 1978 - 2024
Approval of Congressional Incumbent Running for Re-Election 1980 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward House Incumbents and Challengers 1978 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Senate candidates 1978 - 2024
Net Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Senate Candidates 1978 - 2024
Presidential Vote Choice
Presidential Vote: 2 Major Parties 1948 - 2024
Presidential Vote: 2 Major Parties and Wallace/Anderson/Perot 1948 - 2024
Timing of Respondent's Presidential Vote Decision 1948 - 2020
Congressional Vote Choice
Congressional Vote: 2 Major Parties 1952 - 2024
Split Ticket Voting: Presidential vs Congressional vote 1952 - 2024
Split Ticket vs Straight Ticket 1952 - 2024
Voted for Democrat or Republican for US Senate 1952 - 2024
Gubernatorial Vote Choice
Political Engagement
General Interest in Public Affairs 1960 - 2008
Follow Information about Politics 2008 - 2024
Interest in Current Campaign 1952 - 2024
Expected Closeness of Presidential Race 1952 - 2024
Care Who Wins Presidential Election (2-Point Scale) 1952 - 2012
Care Who Wins Presidential Election (5-Point Scale) 2016 - 2024
Care Who Wins Congressional Election 1966 - 2008
Discussed politics with family and friends 1984 - 2020
How often in the last week did respondent discuss politics 1984 - 2024
Registration and Turnout
Voter Turnout (without midterm years) 1948 - 2024
Voted on election day or before 1994 - 2024
Voting seen as duty or choice 2012 - 2024
Campaign Participation
Tried to Influence How Others Vote 1952 - 2024
Attended Political Meeting 1952 - 2024
Worked for a Party or Candidate 1952 - 2024
Wore a Button or Put a Sticker on the Car 1956 - 2024
Gave Money to Help a Campaign 1952 - 2024
Mobilization
Contacted by Either Major Party 1956 - 2024
Contacted by Democratic Party 1956 - 2024
Contacted by Republican Party 1956 - 2024
Contacted by someone other than the parties 1980 - 2024
Contacted to Register or Vote 1984 - 2024
Other Civic Activity
Volunteer work in the last 12 months 1992 - 2024
Worked with others in the community 2000 - 2020
Attended meeting about issue in community or schools 2000 - 2024
Partisanship
Party Identification: 7-Point Scale 1952 - 2024
Party Identification: 3-Point Scale 1952 - 2024
Strength of Partisanship 1952 - 2024
Evaluation of the Parties
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Parties 1978 - 2024
Net Affect Toward Parties 1978 - 2024
Affective Polarization of Parties: Own-party and rival-party feelings 1978 - 2024
Which Party would best Handle Most Important Problem 1972 - 2024
Which party better at economy 1990 - 2024
Which party better at environment 1990 - 2024
Important Differences Between 2 Parties 1952 - 2024
Ideology and Scope of Government
Liberal-Conservative Self-Identification: 7-Point Scale 1972 - 2024
Liberal-Conservative Self-Identification: 3-Point Scale 1972 - 2024
Ideological Extremity 1972 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Liberals and Conservatives 1964 - 2024
Net Affect Toward Liberals and Conservatives 1964 - 2024
Affective Polarization of Ideologues: In-group and out-group feelings 1972 - 2024
Power of the Federal Government 1964 - 2000
Less govt better or more things govt should do 1990 - 2024
Values
Adjust view of morality to changes 1986 - 2024
Fewer problems if more emphasis on traditional family ties 1986 - 2024
Do what's necessary for equal opportunity 1984 - 2024
Country would be better if we worried less about equality 1984 - 2024
Not a big problem if some people have more of a chance 1984 - 2024
If people treated equally, we'd have fewer problems 1984 - 2024
Social Welfare, Healthcare, and Education
Government Support for Health Care 1956 - 1968
Government vs Private Health Care (7 point scale) 1970 - 2024
Government vs Private Health Care (3 point scale) 1970 - 2024
Government Guaranteed Job and Standard of Living (7 point scale) 1972 - 2024
Government Guaranteed Job and Standard of Living (3 point scale) 1972 - 2024
Government Services and Spending (7 point scale) 1982 - 2024
Government Services and Spending (3 point scale) 1982 - 2024
Federal spending on Social Security 1984 - 2024
Federal spending on public schools 1984 - 2024
Federal spending on child care 1988 - 2016
Federal spending to aid the poor 1992 - 2024
Economy, Budget, and Taxes
Retrospective Economic Evaluation (last year) 1980 - 2024
Prospective Economic Evaluation (next year) 1980 - 2024
Economy good or bad 2012 - 2020
Retrospective Evaluation of Personal Finances (last year) 1962 - 2024
Prospective Evaluation of Personal Finances (next year) 1956 - 2024
How worried about personal finances? 2012 - 2024
Unemployment gotten better or worse 1986 - 2024
Inflation gotten better or worse 1986 - 2008
Gap between rich and poor getting wider? 2004 - 2024
Favor/oppose gov't trying to reduce income differences 2012 - 2020
Favor/oppose increased taxes on millionaires 2012 - 2024
Importance of reducing budget deficit 2012 - 2024
Social and Cultural Issues
Equal Role for Women 1972 - 2008
When should abortion be allowed 1972 - 1980
By law, when should abortion be allowed 1980 - 2024
Protect gays & lesbians from discrimination 1988 - 2024
Allow gays & lesbians to adopt 1992 - 2024
Same-sex marriage views 2012 - 2024
School Prayer should be allowed (yes/no) 1964 - 1984
School Prayer should be allowed (4 point scale) 1986 - 1998
Guns and Crime
Federal spending on crime 1984 - 2024
Favor/oppose death penalty 1988 - 2024
Make it easier/harder to buy a gun 2000 - 2024
Importance of gun control to respondent 2000 - 2020
Military and Foreign Policy
U.S. Should Not Concern Itself with World Problems 1956 - 2024
US position grown weaker or stronger 1958 - 2024
Cut Military Spending (yes/no) 1972 - 1976
Increase/Decrease Military Spending (7 point scale) 1980 - 2024
Increase/Decrease Military Spending (3 point scale) 1980 - 2024
Immigration, Trade, and Globalization
Immigrants should be decreased/increased 1992 - 2024
Immigrants take away jobs 2004 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating Toward Illegal Immigrants 1988 - 2024
Federal spending on border security 1996 - 2024
Favor/oppose limits on imports 1988 - 2024
Race
Aid to Blacks/Minorities (7 point scale) 1970 - 2024
Aid to Blacks/Minorities (3 point scale) 1970 - 2024
Affirmative action in hiring/promotion 1986 - 2024
Change in Situation of Blacks 1964 - 1994
Pace of Civil Rights Leaders' Actions 1964 - 1992
Favor Desegregation or Segregation 1964 - 1978
Federal Government Ensure School Integration 1962 - 2000
Busing to Achieve School Integration 1972 - 1984
Government See to Fair Treatment in Jobs 1964 - 2012
Environment
Tougher environmental regulations, or regulations a burden? (7 point scale) 1996 - 2024
Tougher environmental regulations, or regulations a burden? (3 point scale) 1996 - 2024
Trust in Government
Trust the Federal Government (4-point Scale) 1958 - 2012
Trust the Federal Government (5-point Scale) 2012 - 2024
Is the Government Run for the Benefit of All 1964 - 2024
Are Government Officials Crooked 1958 - 2012
How many Government Officials are Corrupt 2012 - 2024
Do People in Government Waste Tax Money 1958 - 2024
Trust in Government Index 1958 - 2024
Efficacy
Politics Too Complicated (agree/disagree) 1952 - 2012
Politics Too Complicated (how often) 2008 - 2024
Understand Political Issues 2008 - 2024
People Don't Have a Say in What the Government Does 1952 - 2024
Public Officials Don't Care What People Think 1952 - 2024
External Political Efficacy Index 1952 - 2024
Government Responsiveness and Democratic Integrity
How Much Does the Government Listen to the People 1964 - 2004
Elections Make the Government Pay Attention 1964 - 2024
Government Responsiveness Index 1964 - 2024
Makes a big difference who is in power 2008 - 2020
How satisfied with way democracy works 2004 - 2024
How often are votes counted fairly 2016 - 2024
Approval and Evaluations of Government
Things in this country on Right track/wrong track 1992 - 2024
Approval of President 1972 - 2024
Approval of Presidential handling of economy 1984 - 2024
Approval of Presidential handling of foreign affairs 1984 - 2024
Approval of Presidential handling of health care 1996 - 2020
Approval of Congress 1980 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Congress 1980 - 2024
Approval of House incumbent 1980 - 2024
How well does House incumbent stay in touch with district 1986 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward US Supreme Court 1980 - 2024
Group Feelings
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Racial/Ethnic Groups 1964 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Religious Groups 1964 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Gender/Sex-related Groups 1984 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Social Movements 1970 - 2024
Average Feeling Thermometer Rating toward Various Societal Groups 1964 - 2024
Importance of American identity 2012 - 2024
Perceived Discrimination
How much discrimination against whites 2012 - 2024
How much discrimination against blacks 2012 - 2024
How much discrimination against hispanics 2012 - 2024
How much discrimination against asians 2016 - 2024
How much discrimination against women 2012 - 2024
How much discrimination against gays and lesbians 2012 - 2024
Conditions make it difficult for blacks to succeed 1986 - 2024
Blacks should not have special favors to succeed 1986 - 2024
Blacks must try harder to succeed 1986 - 2024
Blacks gotten less than they deserve over the past few years 1986 - 2024
Social Characteristics
Household Union Membership 1948 - 2024
Social Class (Self-Identification): MIddle or Working Class? 1956 - 2024
Religion
Religion, 4 categories 1948 - 2024
Religion, 5 categories 1960 - 2024
Religion, 6 categories 1960 - 2024
Attitudes about the Origin of the Bible, 3 categories 1990 - 2024
Attitudes about the Origin of the Bible, 2 categories 1964 - 2024
Religion an Important Part of Life 1980 - 2024
Religious Guidance in Day-to-Day Living 1980 - 2016
Church Attendance, 4 categories 1952 - 1968
Church Attendance, 5 categories 1970 - 2024
Personal Experiences and Outlook
How often does respondent trust other people 2008 - 2024
does respondent trust other people 1964 - 2008
How much racial or ethnic discrimination have you faced 2012 - 2024
Political Knowledge
Which Party Had Most Members of Congress Before the Election 1958 - 2024
Which party had the most members in the Senate before election 1982 - 2024
Know Speaker of the House 1992 - 2024
Important Note on Retired Charts: Several charts in the old version of the Guide have been retired and thus are not included in this version. These charts feature trends that are no longer updated (because ANES stopped asking the question in its Time Series surveys) and/or are likely to be of less interest to contemporary users. Email us at [email protected] about these retired charts in the old version of the Guide.