Poll finds backing for immigration measures

PHOENIX - A new survey of Arizona voters found most supporting four immigration-related measures that the Legislature put on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

The same poll found a majority opposing an initiative measure on marriage.

Results of the poll conducted by Arizona State University were released Tuesday.

The poll found support for measures to deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with a serious felony (76 percent to 15 percent), to make English the state's official language (67 percent to 26 percent), bar illegal immigrants from receiving punitive damages in civil lawsuits (61 percent to 26 percent)and prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving certain government services and benefits (50 percent to 35 percent).

The poll found a majority of those surveyed opposed, 51 percent to 38 percent, an initiative to amend the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman and prohibit state and local governments from giving legal status to unmarried couples.

The poll was conducted Thursday through Tuesday by the university's KAET-TV and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The poll was based on telephone interviews with 846 registered voters and had a margin of error was three percentage points.