http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=62686

Poll Shows Support for Official English at New High

3/21/2006 10:00:00 AM


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To: National Desk

Contact: Phil Kent of ProEnglish, 404-226-3549

ARLINGTON, Va., March 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Americans overwhelmingly want English to be declared the official language of the United States, according to a recent poll by Zogby International and commissioned by ProEnglish, an Arlington, Va.- based national organization that backs official English.

ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin said, "Eighty-five percent of likely voters incorrectly think English already is the official language of the United States. But when informed that the United States does not have an official language, virtually the same number -- 84 percent -- agree that we should make English the official language of governmental operations."

McAlpin added, "Eighty-four percent is the highest level of support we have seen for official English in a national public opinion survey. The last Zogby poll on official English conducted in June 2005 found 79 percent support, which indicates public support may be rising."

Demographic and political breakdowns showed overwhelming support across the board with 86 percent of whites, 71 percent of Hispanics, and 77 percent of African-Americans agreeing. By party affiliation 82 percent of Democrats, 91 percent of Republicans, and 77 percent of self-identified Independents agreed with making English the official language of the United States.

Ideologically, 86 percent of moderates, 87 percent of conservatives, and 78 percent of liberals and progressives, favored making English the official language.

McApin commented, "This is a huge boost for the English Language Unity Act, H.R. 997, a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) that would make English our official language and which now enjoys the bipartisan co-sponsorship of more than a third of the entire House of Representatives. If congressional leaders want to find ways to improve Congress's standing with the voters," added McAlpin, "they could do a lot worse than to pass legislation that enjoys 84 percent voter support."

The Zogby poll of 1,007 likely voters was conducted March 14 – 16, with the firm employing sampling strategies in which the selection probabilities are proportional to population size within telephone area codes and exchanges. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percent (higher in sub-groups).