EC North Carolina News

An Elon University representative survey showed that nearly 66% percent of North Carolina residents approved of Gov. Roy Cooper's measure to mandate masks ahead of an executive order on June 26, the university said on July 2. 

The poll surveyed 1,410 adults across population sectors between June 24-25, with a credibility interval at plus or minus 2.8%. There was a large divide between political affiliations, with 57% of Republicans approving the measure and 91% of Democrats approving it, but most North Carolinians supported the mandate overall. 

Despite the support to mandate face masks, the Elon University poll indicated a wider cross-section on actual usage in public. Forty-six percent of respondents said they always wear a mask in a public building, with 18% stating they usually do. Thirty-four percent said they wear a mask half the time or less in public spaces. 

The poll also found that 79% of women and 85% of Black Americans supported mandating masks. The measure was slightly less popular amongst men and white Americans, both at 68% approval.  

“Mitigating COVID-19 risk in North Carolina is both a story of governmental policies and public behaviors,” Elon University poll director and professor Jason Husser said in a release from the university. “Our survey finds most North Carolinians are taking precautions and are generally aligned with restrictions so far. However, a minority think rules have been too strict or ineffective.”

When asked whether North Carolina's restrictions have been too restrictive, not restrictive enough, or about right, 46% of respondents either claimed the restrictions were not restrictive enough, and 33% said it was just right. Twenty-one percent said that the restrictions were too much. About a third of Republicans fell into each of the three categories.

Approximately 62% of North Carolinians stated that they believed social-distancing measures have been effective, while 21% said they haven't made much of a difference.

The Elon poll also found that 51% of respondents approved of Cooper's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving him an A or B grade, but found that less than half, 36%, gave President Donald Trump an A or B, with 39% giving him an F.

“The outcome of the 2020 gubernatorial election will be influenced by public opinion about Governor Cooper’s COVID-19 policies, particularly if those policies seem too restrictive,” Husser said in the release. “So far, the Governor’s policies have been fairly well received. A slight majority handed out high marks for Cooper’s overall response and substantial majorities viewed the mask order positively and saw social distancing as effective.”