2021 Virginia Election Survey: Likely Voters Support Easing Burden of Student Debt

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Summary of Key Findings

Nearly half (44%) of all voters say that they or a loved one has faced challenges due to student debt, including 59% of voters 18-49 years-old and almost 3-in-10 voters 65+.

One-third of voters 18-49 say student debt prevented them or a loved one from getting needed health care; 60% of voters 50-64 say that they or loved ones couldn’t save for retirement; and 1-in-6 (17%) of voters ages 65-plus say that student debt prevented them or loved ones from retiring.

Almost 6-in-10 likely voters (59%) – with nearly identical support among age groups – support an increase of state government support for public universities so more people can afford college tuition.

More than 3-in-4 (77%) of likely voters say the state government should protect borrowers from predatory loan practices and increase oversight of the largely unregulated student loan servicer industry.

Survey of 800 Virginia Registered Likely Voters Age 18+ conducted by Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University on behalf of AARP, August 15-23, 2021. Margin of error +/-3.6%

The full research report will explore how voters across the state feel about – and expect candidates to address – key health and financial security challenges that impact Virginians of all ages.


Student Debt Questions

1. In 2020, Americans owed $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt, second only to mortgage debt, which has challenged their ability to do things like save for retirement or buy homes. Have you or a loved one faced challenges due to student debt?

2. [If yes] Has student loan debt prevented you or a loved one from…[INSERT ITEM]

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements related to college affordability? If you are unsure, please say that.

• A. State governments should increase their financial support for public universities so more people can afford college tuition.

• B. State and federal governments should provide stronger oversight and regulations to prevent student loan servicers and debt collectors from engaging in deceptive and abusive practices.
  

• C. State governments should protect borrowers from predatory loan practices and provide oversight of the largely unregulated student loan servicer industry.

Demographics

EDUC: Could you tell me the highest level of school or college you had the opportunity to complete:
               

High school or less                                15

Vo-Tech                                                    6

Some college                                          28

College or more                                     49

HISPANIC: Do you consider yourself to be Hispanic or Latino?             

Yes                                                           4                                                             

No                                                           94                                          

Dk/ref (vol)                                             2                            

RACE: Do you consider yourself to be:        

White                                                     69                               

Black or African American               20          

Other                                                      11          

RELIG: What is your religious preference, are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, another religion, or no religion?

Protestant                                              41                                          

Christian (non-specific)                      12          

Catholic                                                 13          

Jewish                                                      1            

Other                                                        6          

None                                                      21          

Dk/ref (vol)                                             5             

IDEOL: When it comes to your ideology, would you consider yourself to be…

Very conservative                                 9

Conservative                                        17

Moderate                                              33

Liberal                                                   25

Very liberal                                           11

Dk/ref(vol)                                              5

PARTY: In politics today, do you generally consider yourself to be a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?

Republican                                           28          

Democrat                                              37

Independent                                         32

No Preference/party (vol)                    4  

Dk/Ref (vol)                                           3

PARTYLN

Lean Republican                                 39                          

Lean Democrat                                    34          

Independent                                         17

Dk/ref (vol)                                           10

AGE: (Recorded as exact year of birth)

18-24                                                       4             

25-34                                                       8          

35-44                                                     18          

45-54                                                     14          

55 & older                                             56          

INCOME: And, just for statistical purposes, in which of the following categories does your family income fall?

Under $25,000                                       5          

$25-$49,999                                         16

$50-$74,999                                         16

$75-$99,999                                         17

$100,000-$149,999                            17

Over $150,000                                     17

Dk/ref (vol)                                           12

CELL/LANDLINE

Cell                                                         35          

Landline                                                65

SEX:

Male                                                       49

Female                                                   51

REGION

Northern Virginia                                                 32

Richmond-Central                              24

Hampton Roads-East                         24

South/Southwest/West                       21

Methodology

The results of this poll are based on 800 interviews of registered Virginia voters who are likely general election voters, including 277 on landline and 523 on cell phone, conducted August 15-23, 2021. A likely general election voter is one who has voted in at least two of the last four general elections or is newly registered in the last 12 months and indicates they are enthusiastic and plan to vote in the upcoming November 2 election. The margin of error for the whole survey is +/-3.6% at the 95% level of confidence. This means that if 50% of respondents indicate a topline view on an issue, we can be 95% confident that the population’s view on that issue is somewhere between 46.4% and 53.6%. The margin of error for subgroups may be higher. All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which is 1.1 in this survey. The design effect is a factor representing the survey’s deviation from a simple random sample and takes into account decreases in precision due to sample design and weighting procedures. In addition to sampling error, the other potential sources of error include non-response, question wording, and interviewer error. Percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding. The response rate (AAPOR RRI Standard Definition) for the survey was 12%. Five callbacks were employed in the fielding process. Live calling was conducted by Dynata. The data reported here are weighted using an iterative weighting process on region, age, race, sex, and education to reflect as closely as possible the population of Virginia’s November 2, 2021 electorate.

For more information, contact Kate Bridges at kbridges@aarp.org
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