Ciruli Associates - Colorado Politics - Polls - Research - Public Policy

Denver voters lean slightly in favor of the gay rights position in the marriage controversy. Of two ballot initiatives concerning gay marriage proposed for the November 2006 Colorado election, a ban on gay marriage is barely opposed by Denver likely primary voters (49% against to 45% favor). A domestic partnership proposal is supported, but again with just over half of voters (51%).

Question: In the November General Election, there will be several issues on the ballot. Please tell me as I read some of the proposals, as of today, would you vote for or against the proposal? An amendment to the Colorado Constitution stating that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in the State of Colorado.

An amendment to the Colorado Constitution establishing domestic partnership laws between two persons of the same sex.

Ciruli Associates, N275, 2006

The weak opposition to the ban on gay marriage among Denver primary voters indicates it would likely pass today statewide. For a ban to fail, Denver, a large Democratic-leaning county, would need to provide a significant percentage of “no” votes. The poll indicates that would not happen.

As the table below shows, there is more support for a ban among Republicans than there is opposition among Democrats (73% Republicans favor to 64% Democrat oppose). Denver’s minority community offers little support for the gay rights marriage initiative. African American voters overwhelmingly support the ban on gay marriage. Hispanic voters give it narrow support.

Support for domestic partnership is slightly higher than opposition to the ban on gay marriage. Democrats offer 62% support; Republicans only 54% opposition. Hispanic and Black voters, similar to their views on gay marriage, provide little support for the concept.

Support for domestic partnership would have to improve in Denver for it to win statewide.

The gay rights position on the marriage ban and domestic partnership is most opposed by voters over 65 years old and most supported by college and post-college graduates, and by middle-aged voters from 35 to 64 years old. Men and women do not significantly differ in their views on gay rights related to marriage overall. But an examination of internal differences shows that conservative women are much more supportive of the marriage ban than conservative men. Conservative men and women are equally opposed to domestic partnerships.

The telephone survey was conducted June 25-30, 2006, by Ciruli Associates with 275 Denver likely primary voters (±5.9 percentage points). This analysis is part of a series of reports on Colorado and local issues published by Ciruli Associates.

Ciruli Associates is a non-partisan research firm providing polling, election analysis and political commentary to Colorado and national media organizations since 1976.