Survey: More than 80% prefer to stay in 3rd District

A new survey shows that more than 80% of registered voters in parts of Fayetteville prefer to stay in Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District instead of being shifted to the 4th District.

The Tolbert Report Poll, conducted Mar. 28 by Jason Tolbert and Diamond State Consulting Group, polled 781 randomly selected registered voters in the part of Fayetteville (Washington County) that would be moved from the 3rd District to the 4th District under a plan approved by the House State Agency Committee.

The House and Senate State Agencies committees will consider sending redistricting plans to each chamber for final legislative approval, part of the charge of the Arkansas General Assembly to redraw Congressional District lines after each decennial Census.

The final map — referred to as "Fayetteville to the Fourth" — has been at the center of controversy. The map splits Crawford and Washington Counties, as well as Garland, Lincoln and White Counties. Hot Springs Village is moved into the Second District and the city of Searcy remains in the Second, too. Baxter County moves from the First to the Third District. Of course, the biggest controversy will involve the map’s foray through Crawford County and into the greater Fayetteville area in Washington County.

The Tolbert Poll asked the following question:
“Would you prefer that Fayetteville remain in a congressional  district with  Bentonville, Rogers and Fort Smith or move to a congressional district with Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Texarkana? If you would prefer that Fayetteville remain in a congressional district with Bentonville, Rogers and Fort Smith, press 1. If you would prefer that Fayetteville move to a congressional district with Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Texarkana, press 2. If you are unsure as to which district Fayetteville should be in, press 3.”

Poll results showed that 81.8% preferred to stay in the 3rd District, 10.2% move to the 4th and 8% unsure. The poll has a margin of error of +-3.5%.

“It is not surprising that the plan has opposition however the magnitude of the opposition  in the Fayetteville area with such a small degree of support will be hard for state lawmakers to ignore,” Jason Tolbert, editor of The Tolbert Report, noted in the statement.

The poll also shows that 3rd District Congressman Steve Womack (R) enjoys a healthy approval rating in the Fayetteville area with 43.7% having a favorable opinion to 26.8% unfavorable while 29.5% had no opinion. 4th District Congressman Mike Ross (D) is unknown with 52.1% having no opinion while 24.9% have a favorable opinion and 23% unfavorable.

The Tolbert Report is a political blog focusing primarily on Arkansas politics from a conservative perspective. In addition to The Tolbert Report, Jason Tolbert is also an independent columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and works as an accountant in the central Arkansas area.