FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) -- The 17th Annual Arkansas Poll showed that Arkansans have stayed consistent with their party line alliance, but their views on certain issues have shifted.
The biggest change came in Arkansans' views on medical marijuana, according to a press release on the poll.
The 2012 poll showed that 44 percent of respondents were in favor of allowing medical marijuana use, compared to 52 percent who opposed the measure.
In 2015, the number in favor of medical marijuana use jumped to 68 percent, with just 26 percent opposing, the release states.
Party affiliation remained steady, with 27 percent of respondents identifying as Republican, 32 percent Democrat and 32 percent as independent.
Of the independents, 42 percent said they identify more with Republicans, 23 percent with Democrats and 30 percent said they were strictly independent.
Sen. John Boozman (Rep.) is sitting at 38 percent approval rating, Sen. Tom Cotton (Rep.) is also at 45 percent and Gov. Asa Hutchinson is at 57 percent. According to the release, these approval rates have remained fairly steady.
The poll also covered the 2016 election. If the election were to happen today, 42 percent of respondents would vote Republican and 32 percent said they would vote Democrat.
For the first time since 2003, the poll tested approval ratings of state services, which are:
- 40 percent were satisfied with the condition of roads/highways
- 78 percent were satisfied with parks and recreation facilities
- 71 percent were satisfied with colleges and universities
- 27 percent were satisfied with the welfare system
- 54 percent were satisfied with K-12 schools
- 50 percent were satisfied with tax-funded services
The death penalty is another issue that is strongly supported by Arkansans, with 71 percent in favor the release states. Nationally, death penalty support is around 61 percent, according to the latest national Gallup poll.
In the 17 years since the poll started, it has a track record of coming within two points of predicting election results, according to the release. The poll was developed by Janine Parry, a political science professor at the University of Arkansas, and is sponsored by the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society at the University of Arkansas.
The results were collected from Oct. 19-25 by polling 800 people by phone.