Majority of New York Voters Oppose Governor's New Drivers License Plan, Poll Says
By Regina Sass

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has proposed to make it easier for illegal workers, and everyone else in New York, to get a driver's license by removing the requirement that the applicant have a social security card. The way it is now is the actual card must be presented.

According to the latest Zogby poll that was taken among voters across New York, 58% disagree with the Governor while just 35% agree with him.

The opinions differ widely depending on the part of the state the voters come from. It is opposed by a majority of the votes in all parts of the state, but more in some parts of the state than in others. Those who live in the New York City area have 52% who are against it and 45% against it. In the suburbs of New York City, 56% oppose it and 37% agree with it. And in the upstate section, 64% oppose it and 25% favor it.

The Governor's plan is garnering opposition from those who oppose him on most issues, but also from those who are his allies on most issued, including the New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Mayor has stated that the lawyers for the city are of the opinion that the licenses would not meet the new federal ID requirement and New Yorker's would not be able to use their licenses to do things like enter federal buildings and go through airport security.

The Governor's spokesperson Christine Anderson replied that the Mayor is confused about the plan because the new federal law will not go into effect until 2013 and none of the states are in compliance with it yet. She also stated that the plan would make the roads safer because all of the immigrant drivers would be able to get licenses and insurance.

Breaking the results down by the different demographics, 58% of the men oppose the plan as do 61% of the women.

With Democrats, 48% favor it and 42% oppose it and with Republicans 74% oppose and 19% approve. The independents have 67% opposing and 28% approving.

Age wise, those in the 18-29 age group are in favor by a margin of 57% to 35%, those in the 30 - 49 age group oppose it by 64% to 30% and those in the over 50 group come in with just about the same numbers as the 30 - 49 group.

The respondents in the survey were 700 likely voters across the state and it was conducted between September 28 and October 1 and has a margin of error or + or - 3.8%

Source: Zogby International http://www.zogby.com/

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