By a wide margin, Fairfax City voters support keeping elections for city offices non-partisan. Overall, 67% support non-partisan elections, while only 17% oppose it and 16% are undecided.
A recent poll conducted by Mason-Dixon® Polling & Strategy for the Fairfax Commonsense PAC reveals that Fairfax City voters overwhelmingly support maintaining the city’s tradition of non-partisan elections.
This comprehensive poll highlights the strong preference among Fairfax City voters for nonpartisan elections, with significant support across all demographic groups. The data underscores the community’s commitment to maintaining a non-partisan electoral process, reflecting a broad consensus on the importance of unbiased local governance.
Key Findings:
- QUESTION: Are you aware that Fairfax City has historically had non-partisan elections, where candidates do not affiliate with any political party?
- City-Wide: 67% of voters support keeping elections non-partisan, with 17% opposed, and 16% are undecided.
- By Gender: 68% of women and 64% of men support non-partisan elections.
- By Age: Support is highest among voters aged 50-64 and 65+ at 71%, followed by those aged 35-49 (64%) and 18-34 (59%).
- By Party ID: 66% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 69% of Independents support non-partisan elections.
- QUESTION: Do you support or oppose keeping Fairfax City elections non-partisan?
- City-Wide: 66% of voters are aware that Fairfax City has a history of non-partisan elections.
- By Gender: Awareness is consistent with both men (67%) and women (66%).
- By Age: Voters aged 50-64 (76%) and 65+ (69%) are most aware, compared to 35-49 (64%) and 18-34 (49%).
- By Party ID: Democrats are most aware at 72%, followed by Independents (63%) and Republicans (58%).
The poll was conducted from May 23 through May 28, 2024, and surveyed 500 registered voters. It has a margin for error of ± 4.5 percentage points. Rigorous industry standards were utilized to ensure accuracy and reliability.
About Mason-Dixon® Polling & Strategy: Mason-Dixon® Polling & Strategy is a nationally recognized independent polling firm that has conducted surveys for news organizations and public policy groups in all 50 states. The firm conducted its first poll in Virginia in 1984. The full polling breakdown was exclusively released to The Fairfax Independent and was published in our inaugural edition in September 2024.
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Author
Tania Hossain is the editor, publisher, and co-owner of The Independent News Press, a consortium of local print and online newspapers in Virginia. She focuses on writing about community issues and advocates for local newspapers, both print and online, especially in the age of Ai from selfie filters to betting on military strikes. A Merrifield resident, she is a keen backyard gardener, loves forest bathing and a curious biohacker, believing that proactive health keeps one out of the costly illness industry. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine launch, she feels fortunate to be running this newspaper.
