Poll: Majority of Voters Want Congress to Avoid Government Shutdown

Sixty-three percent of voters say Congress should avoid a government shutdown, a new Politico/Morning Consult poll reveals.

Just 18 percent of those surveyed believe lawmakers should allow a temporary shutdown if it aids them in meeting policy goals. Nineteen percent of voters were undecided on the issue.

Here is how the survey breaks down:

• 62 percent of Republicans said lawmakers should take all necessary steps to avoid a shutdown, compared to 22 percent who said Congress should allow a temporary shutdown if it helps achieve policy goals.
• 68 percent of Democrats were against a shutdown, while 15 percent said lawmakers should allow it to achieve their policy goals.
• 61 percent of independents were against shutting down the government, compared to 16 percent who said Congress should allow it if it helps achieve policy goals.

"Despite a deeply polarized electorate, our polling indicates voters are unified in their opposition against a potential government shutdown," said Morning Consult co-founder and chief research officer Kyle Dropp.

Other highlights of the survey include:

• 45 percent of those polled approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing, compared to 51 percent who disapprove.
• 40 percent said they would vote for the Democratic candidate if House elections were held today, compared to 38 percent who would vote Republican.
• 46 percent support the Republican tax legislation, while 37 percent oppose it.
• 46 percent say sexual harassment and misconduct in the federal government is a big problem; 28 percent believe it is somewhat of a problem; 11 percent maintain it is a small problem and 4 percent are convinced it is not a problem at all.

The poll, conducted Dec. 1-3, surveyed 1,997 registered voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

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