Variable catalogSubject R detail
= go to variable directory
= go to variable detail
= go to questionnaire (if applicable)
= expand/collapse subject
= active for full component
= partially active
RA — Voter registration
RB — Primary election
RC — General election
RD — Prior elections
Registered to vote at time of interview
Schedule
Nat RCS
3/17/08 – 11/3/08
These days, many people are so busy they cannot find time to register to vote, or they move around so often they do not get a chance to re-register. Are you currently registered to vote in your precinct or election district, or haven't you been able to register so far?
1
Yes, registered
2
No, not registered
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RA01
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Registered to vote on Election Day (asked before vote choice question)
Schedule
R
By Election Day, were you registered to vote in your precinct or election district, or not?
1
Yes
2
No
998
Don't know
999
No answer
See also RA03 for alternate question position.
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RA02
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Registered to vote on Election Day (asked after vote choice question)
Schedule
R
By Election Day, were you registered to vote in your precinct or election district, or not?
1
Yes
2
No
998
Don't know
999
No answer
See also RA02 for alternate question position.
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RA03
1, 2, 998, 999
3
RBa — Intended primary vote
RBb — Actual primary vote
Candidate would vote for today in Republican primary
Schedule
Nat RCS
12/17/07 – 3/4/08
If you voted today in the Republican presidential primary election or caucus in your state, which candidate would you vote for? [Read candidate names.]
1
{12/17/07 – 1/29/08 : Giuliani}
2
Huckabee
3
{12/17/07 – 1/19/08 : Hunter}
4
McCain
5
Paul
6
{12/17/07 – 2/6/08 : Romney}
7
{12/17/07 – 12/19/07 : Tancredo}
8
{12/17/07 – 1/21/08 : Thompson}
9
Other (verbatim answer in RBa01r9v)
10
Would not vote for nominee
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBa01
1 – 10, 998, 999
3
RBa01r9v
Verbatim
255
Candidate would vote for today in Democratic primary
Schedule
Nat RCS
12/17/07 – 6/8/08
If you voted today in the Democratic presidential primary election or caucus in your state, which candidate would you vote for? [Read candidate names.]
1
{12/17/07 – 1/3/08 : Biden}
2
Clinton
3
{12/17/07 – 1/3/08 : Dodd}
4
{12/17/07 – 1/29/08 : Edwards}
5
{12/17/07 – 3/25/08 : Gravel}
6
{12/17/07 – 1/24/08 : Kucinich}
7
Obama
8
{12/17/07 – 1/9/08 : Richardson}
9
Other (verbatim answer in RBa02r9v)
10
Would not vote for nominee
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBa02
1 – 10, 998, 999
3
RBa02r9v
Verbatim
255
Primary election status
Schedule
Nat RCS
All dates
1
Interviewed before state's presidential primary election
2
Interviewed after state's presidential primary election
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBb01
1, 2
1
Voted in primary election
Schedule
Nat RCS
2/20/08 – 11/3/08
Did you vote in the 2008 presidential primary or caucus in your state, or not?
[If yes:] Did you vote in the Republican or Democratic primary or caucus in your state?
1
Yes, Republican
2
Yes, Democratic
3
Did not vote
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBb02
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Candidate voted for in Republican primary
Schedule
Nat RCS
2/20/08 – 11/3/08
Who did you vote for in your state's primary or caucus?
1
Giuliani
2
Huckabee
3
Hunter
4
McCain
5
Paul
6
Romney
7
Tancredo
8
Thompson
9
Other (verbatim answer in RBb03r9v)
10
Did not vote for nominee
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBb03
1 – 10, 998, 999
3
RBb03r9v
Verbatim
255
Candidate voted for in Democratic primary
Schedule
Nat RCS
2/20/08 – 11/3/08
Who did you vote for in your state's primary or caucus?
1
Biden
2
Clinton
3
Dodd
4
Edwards
5
Gravel
6
Kucinich
7
Obama
8
Richardson
9
Other (verbatim answer in RBb04r9v)
10
Did not vote for nominee
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RBb04
1 – 10, 998, 999
3
RBb04r9v
Verbatim
255
RCa — Intended general election vote
RCb — Actual general election vote
RCc — Congressional elections
Plan to vote in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/26/08 – 8/27/08
Do you plan to vote in the general election in November, or don't you plan to vote?
1
Yes, plan to vote
2
No, don't plan to vote
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa01
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Chance of voting in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/26/08 – 8/27/08
I would like you to rate your chances of voting in the general election on a scale of one to 10. Ten means you will definitely vote, and one means you will definitely not vote. Of course you may use any number in between.
Number:
1 – 10
1 = definitely not vote
10 = definitely vote
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa02
1 – 10, 998, 999
3
Would vote today for McCain or Obama
Schedule
Nat RCS
3/7/08 – 3/27/08
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today and the candidates were John McCain, the Republican, and Barack Obama, the Democrat, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Other (verbatim answer in RCa03r3v)
4
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa03
1 – 4, 998, 999
3
RCa03r3v
Verbatim
255
Would vote today for McCain or Clinton
Schedule
Nat RCS
3/7/08 – 3/27/08
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today and the candidates were John McCain, the Republican, and Hillary Clinton, the Democrat, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Clinton
3
Other (verbatim answer in RCa04r3v)
4
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa04
1 – 4, 998, 999
3
RCa04r3v
Verbatim
255
Would vote today for McCain, Obama, or Nader
Schedule
Nat RCS
3/28/08 – 6/23/08
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today and the candidates were John McCain, the Republican; Barack Obama, the Democrat; and Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Other (verbatim answer in RCa05r4v)
5
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa05
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
RCa05r4v
Verbatim
255
Would vote today for McCain, Clinton, or Nader
Schedule
Nat RCS
3/28/08 – 6/8/08
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today, and the candidates were John McCain, the Republican; Hillary Clinton, the Democrat; and Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Clinton
3
Nader
4
Other (verbatim answer in RCa06r4v)
5
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa06
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
RCa06r4v
Verbatim
255
Would vote today for McCain, Obama, Nader, or Barr
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/24/08 – 9/25/08
Filter
If {9/18/08 – 9/25/08 : have not early voted in general election}
9/18/08 – 9/25/08 :
RCb02 = 2, 998, 999
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today and the candidates were {6/24/08 – 8/28/08 : John McCain, the Republican | 8/29/08 – 9/25/08 : John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans}; {6/24/08 – 8/28/08 : Barack Obama, the Democrat | 8/29/08 – 9/25/08 : Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats}; Ralph Nader, the {6/24/08 – 7/13/08 : Green Party | 7/14/08 – 9/25/08 : Independent} candidate; and Bob Barr, the Libertarian, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Barr
5
Other (verbatim answer in RCa07r5v)
6
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa07
1 – 6, 998, 999
3
RCa07r5v
Verbatim
255
Would vote today for McCain, Obama, Nader, Barr, or McKinney
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/26/08 – 11/3/08
Thinking about the general election for president in November 2008, if that election were held today and the candidates were John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans; Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats; Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, the Independent candidates; Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarians; and Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, the Green Party candidates, for whom would you vote?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Barr
5
McKinney
6
Other (verbatim answer in RCa08r6v)
7
Would not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa08
1 – 7, 998, 999
3
RCa08r6v
Verbatim
255
Definitely will vote for McCain
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/25/08 – 10/6/08, 10/13/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Will you definitely vote for John McCain {8/29/08 – 10/6/08, 10/13/08 – 11/3/08 : and Sarah Palin} for president, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else?
[If chance could change mind:] Is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely?
1
Definitely will vote for candidate
2
Good chance will change mind
3
Unlikely will change mind
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa09
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Definitely will vote for Obama
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/25/08 – 10/6/08, 10/13/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Will you definitely vote for Barack Obama {8/29/08 – 10/6/08, 10/13/08 – 11/3/08 : and Joe Biden} for president, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else?
[If chance could change mind:] Is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely?
1
Definitely will vote for candidate
2
Good chance will change mind
3
Unlikely will change mind
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa10
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Definitely will vote for Nader
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/25/08 – 8/27/08
Will you definitely vote for Ralph Nader for president, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else?
[If chance could change mind:] Is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely?
1
Definitely will vote for candidate
2
Good chance will change mind
3
Unlikely will change mind
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa11
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Definitely will vote for Barr
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/25/08 – 8/27/08
Will you definitely vote for Bob Barr for president, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else?
[If chance could change mind:] Is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or would you say it's pretty unlikely?
1
Definitely will vote for candidate
2
Good chance will change mind
3
Unlikely will change mind
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa12
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Supporting McCain or against Obama
Schedule
Nat RCS
8/8/08 – 10/6/08, 10/22/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Would you say you are supporting McCain for president more because you are for McCain or more because you are against Obama?
1
For McCain
2
Against Obama
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa13
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Supporting Obama or against McCain
Schedule
Nat RCS
8/8/08 – 10/6/08, 10/22/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Would you say you are supporting Obama for president more because you are for Obama or more because you are against McCain?
1
For Obama
2
Against McCain
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa14
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Plan to early vote in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
Do you plan to vote before Election Day, that is vote early at a polling station or by filling out an absentee ballot, in the presidential election?
1
Yes
2
No
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa15
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Planned method of early voting in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
How will you cast your ballot? [Read response options 1 – 8 as necessary.]
1
Voting at an early polling station
2
Sending in a ballot by mail
3
Sending in a ballot by fax
4
Personally dropping off a ballot at an election office
5
Having someone else drop off a ballot at an election office for you
6
Voting over the telephone
7
Voting online, that is over the Internet
8
Other (verbatim answer in RCa17r8v)
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa17
1 – 8, 998, 999
3
RCa17r8v
Verbatim
255
Planned date of early voting in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
About when do you plan to cast your ballot? [Read response options 1 – 6 as necessary.]
1
Today
2
One to three days from now
3
Four to six days from now
4
One week from now
5
Two weeks from now
6
More than two weeks from now
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa18
1 – 6, 998, 999
3
Personal qualities or issue positions more important to vote choice
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/11/08 – 10/5/08, 10/22/08 – 11/3/08
Which {Nat RCS : is | Reint : was} more important to you in choosing a candidate for president: their personal qualities, such as experience and judgment, or their positions on specific issues, such as energy policy and Iraq?
1
Personal qualities
2
Issue positions
3
Both equally
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCa19
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Voted in general election (asked post-election)
Schedule
R
In talking with people about politics and elections, we often find that they do not get a chance to vote. Did you happen to vote in the November election?
1
Yes
2
No
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb01
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Early voted in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
Some states allow individuals to vote before Election Day, that is vote early at a polling station or by filling out an absentee ballot. How about you? {Nat RCS : Have you already voted in this year's presidential election, or not? | Reint : Did you vote early in the November election or did you vote on Election Day?}
1
Voted early
2
Voted on Election Day
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb02
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Candidate voted for in general election (wording #1)
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/18/08 – 9/25/08
In the 2008 presidential election who did you vote for: John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans; Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats; Ralph Nader, the Independent candidate; or Bob Barr, the Libertarian?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Barr
5
Other (verbatim answer in RCb03r5v)
6
Did not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
See also RCb04 for alternate wording.
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb03
1 – 6, 998, 999
3
RCb03r5v
Verbatim
255
Candidate voted for in general election (wording #2)
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/26/08 – 11/3/08
In the 2008 presidential election who did you vote for: John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans; Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats; Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez, the Independent candidates; Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarians; or Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, the Green Party candidates?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Barr
5
McKinney
6
Other (verbatim answer in RCb04r6v)
7
Did not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
See also RCb03 for alternate wording.
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb04
1 – 7, 998, 999
3
RCb04r6v
Verbatim
255
Voted for McCain or against Obama
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/18/08 – 10/6/08, 10/22/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Would you say you {Nat RCS : are supporting | Reint : voted for} McCain for president more because you are for McCain or more because you are against Obama?
1
For McCain
2
Against Obama
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb05
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Voted for Obama or against McCain
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/18/08 – 10/6/08, 10/22/08 – 11/3/08
Filter
Would you say you {Nat RCS : are supporting | Reint : voted for} Obama for president more because you are for Obama or more because you are against McCain?
1
For Obama
2
Against McCain
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb06
1, 2, 998, 999
3
Method of early voting in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
R
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
How did you cast your ballot? [Read response options 1 – 8 as necessary.]
1
Voting at an early polling station
2
Sending in a ballot by mail
3
Sending in a ballot by fax
4
Personally dropping off a ballot at an election office
5
Having someone else drop off a ballot at an election office for you
6
Voting over the telephone
7
Voting online, that is over the Internet
8
Other (verbatim answer in RCb07r8v)
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb07
1 – 8, 998, 999
3
RCb07r8v
Verbatim
255
Date of early voting in general election (asked pre-election)
Schedule
Nat RCS
9/18/08 – 11/3/08
On what date did you cast your ballot early in the general election? [Read response options 1 – 5 as necessary.]
1
Today
2
Yesterday
3
Two or three days ago
4
Four to seven days ago
5
More than one week ago
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb08
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
Date of early voting in general election (asked post-election)
Schedule
R
When did you cast your ballot early in the general election?
1
The day before Election Day
2
A couple of days before Election Day
3
The week before Election Day
4
Two or more weeks before Election Day
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb09
1 – 4, 998, 999
3
Would change early general election vote
Schedule
R
If you voted at the polls on Election Day, would your vote for president have been different than it was on your early ballot?
1
Yes
2
No
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb10
1, 2, 998, 999
3
How would change early general election vote
Schedule
R
Who would you have voted for instead?
[As necessary:] John McCain, the Republican; Barack Obama, the Democrat; Ralph Nader, the Independent; Bob Barr, the Libertarian; or Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate?
1
McCain
2
Obama
3
Nader
4
Barr
5
McKinney
6
Other (verbatim answer in RCb11r6v)
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb11
1 – 6, 998, 999
3
RCb11r6v
Verbatim
255
When made up mind about general election vote
Schedule
R
When did you make up your mind about how you would vote for president in the November general election: on Election Day, in the last three days before the election, sometime in the last week before the election, earlier in October, sometime in September, or before that?
1
On Election Day
2
Last three days before election
3
Last week before election
4
Earlier in October
5
In September
6
Before September
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb12
1 – 6, 998, 999
3
McCain's choice of Palin affected vote
Schedule
R
Did John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate make you more likely to vote for McCain, less likely to vote for McCain, or did it make no difference in your decision to vote for president?
1
Made more likely to vote for McCain
2
Made less likely
3
No difference
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb13
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Obama's choice of Biden affected vote
Schedule
R
Did Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his vice presidential candidate make you more likely to vote for Obama, less likely to vote for Obama, or did it make no difference in your decision to vote for president?
1
Made more likely to vote for Obama
2
Made less likely
3
No difference
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb14
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Obama will keep campaign promises in office
Schedule
R
How often do you think Obama will keep his campaign promises once he is in office: always, most of the time, some of the time, rarely, or never?
1
Always
2
Most of the time
3
Some of the time
4
Rarely
5
Never
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCb18
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
Would vote for Republican or Democrat for US House in general election
Schedule
Nat RCS
6/26/08 – 11/3/08
In November you will be able to vote for a member of Congress, that is the US House of Representatives in Washington. If you voted today in the election for your representative, who do you think you would vote for? Would you vote for the Republican or Democrat?
1
Republican
2
Democrat
3
Would not vote for representative
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCc01
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
US House candidate voted for in general election
Schedule
R
Filter
You were able to vote for a member of Congress, that is the US House of Representatives in Washington. Who did you vote for? Was it the Republican or Democrat?
1
Republican
2
Democrat
3
Did not vote for representative
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCc02
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
US Senate candidate voted for in general election
Schedule
R
Filter
You were also able to vote for US Senate. Who did you vote for? Did you vote for the Republican or Democrat?
1
Republican
2
Democrat
3
Did not vote for senator
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RCc03
1 – 3, 998, 999
3
Candidate voted for in 2004 presidential election
Schedule
Nat RCS
All dates
Did you vote in the 2004 presidential election when George W. Bush ran against John Kerry?
[If yes:] Did you vote for George W. Bush, the Republican; John Kerry, the Democrat; Ralph Nader of the Green Party; or someone else?
1
Bush
2
Kerry
3
Nader
4
Other
5
Did not vote for president
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RD01
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
Voted in 2006 congressional election
Schedule
Nat RCS
All dates
The next question is about the congressional elections held in November 2006. In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they just didn't have time. Which of the following statements best describes you?
I did not vote in the November 2006 election.
I thought about voting in that election but didn't.
I usually vote but didn't in that election.
I am sure I voted in the November 2006 election.
1
Did not vote
2
Thought about voting but didn't
3
Usually vote but didn't
4
Voted
5
Not eligible to vote
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RD02
1 – 5, 998, 999
3
Candidate voted for in 2006 congressional election
Schedule
Nat RCS
All dates
In that election, you were able to vote for a member of Congress, that is the US House of Representatives in Washington. Did you vote for the Republican or Democrat?
1
Republican
2
Democrat
3
Other
4
Did not vote for representative
998
Don't know
999
No answer
Data columns
Name
Codes
Width
RD03
1 – 4, 998, 999
3