The student project poll, which was done by students in Professor Ron McNinch’s Constitutional Law class, surveyed 400 Chamorro voters, comprised of 200 males and 200 females.
According to McNinch, the self-identified Chamorros were utilized for the survey in accordance with what the Legislature required for a plebiscite on political status.
These were in-person interviews and not telephone samples.
McNinch notes that while this is a student poll, “people should want to promote these discussions because they’re interesting,” adding that in the next few months, UOG intends to conduct more in-depth surveys and research to develop more information on political status and education.
Of the survey, the top three issues important to Chamorro voters were the economy, health care and education. They were least concerned with power and water, political status, and crime.
With political status, 57 percent preferred statehood, followed by 23 percent who preferred independence. Eighteen percent voted for free association.
Interestingly enough, those surveyed were also asked what country would they choose if they could be a citizen in any country of the world. Over 75 percent chose U.S. citizenship.
In terms of the survey as a whole, McNinch said, “The easiest question is: Do you want to lose your U.S citizenship?”
“Many do not,” he said, leaving the idea that such citizenship would be compromised if Guam sought Independence.
