NATIONAL SURVEY OF IN THE

September 21, 2020 Survey Goals

1. Examine Puerto Ricans’ voting behavior, civic integration, and interest and participation in U.S. politics 2. Measure how Puerto Ricans of different backgrounds are handling the twin disasters of the coronavirus and the ongoing impact of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island and the Puerto Rican community three years ago this week 3. Assess Puerto Ricans’ views of specific issues facing the country at large, including their opinions about the most important priorities for the upcoming election; and 4. Examine views about the status of and how Puerto Rican identity interacts with other political and social views.

2 Key Findings 3

1. COVID-19 and lack of information on vote-by-mail has potential for a large negative impact on voter participation; 2. Puerto Rican community active in politics and civic participation; 3. Puerto Rican community feeling effects of government corruption; 4. Self-determination in some form is important, 49% of Puerto Ricans say they feel like an outsider; 5. Puerto Ricans have great pride in their identity Methods

4

Ø National survey of 1,000 people of Puerto Rican descent living on the mainland (including oversample of 200 Puerto Ricans in PA)

Ø Conducted on phones and online from September 4 to 11, 2020. (English & Spanish)

Ø Results are weighted nationally and have a margin of error of +/- 3.1% Demographics

5

Ø 71% of respondents were interviewed in English Ø 51% identify as Democrats, 17% Republican, 25% independent Ø 58% of respondents were born in the U.S; 40% were born on the island of Puerto Rico Ø 14% have lived on the mainland for 5 years or less; 23%for 6 to 15 years; and 61% have lived in the mainland U.S. for more than 15 years Voting in 2020: 75% of Puerto Ricans say that they will definitely vote in the 2020 presidential election with approximately 15% probably voting and about 1 in 10 saying they will not vote.

6

90% 81% 80% 78% 75% 73% 70%

60%

50%

40%

30% 18% 20% 16% 12% 14% 7% 10% 3% 5% 5% 4% 5% 3% 1% 0% Total PA FL NY I will definitely vote I will probably vote, but not certain right now I may not vote I definitely will not vote Voting in 2020: More than 80% of self-identified Republicans & Democrats reporting that they will definitely vote, compared to 59% of independents 7

90% 85% 81% 80% 75%

70% 59% 60%

50%

40%

30% 24%

20% 16% 13% 13% 12% 10% 5% 5% 3% 1% 1% 3% 2% 0% Total GOP Dem Other/ Indep I will definitely vote I will probably vote, but not certain right now I may not vote I definitely will not vote VBM: In some states they are not automatically sending you a ballot, but you have to request that they send you a mail ballot, if you prefer to vote by mail. Has your state provided you with enough instructions so that you know how to request a mail ballot?

8

Full Sample 80% 80%

70% 70%

60% 60%

50% 50%

40% 40% 68% 30% 59% 30% 60% 50% 50% 20% 41% 20% 40% 32% 10% 10%

0% 0% Yes, I know how to request a mail No, I am not familiar with the PA FL NY ballot process in my state Yes, I know how to request a mail ballot No, I am not familiar with the process in my state VBM: If your state ends up having both mail-in voting and in-person voting options in November, which would you be the most comfortable using to vote in the presidential election? 9

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% 58% 60% 53% 55% 47% 45% 20% 42% 40%

10%

0% Full Sample PA FL NY

I will prefer to vote by mail I will prefer to vote in-person Voting: Nearly three quarters of Puerto Ricans express concern about being exposed to Covid-19 if they do vote in person this November. 10

How concerned or not are you that you might be exposed to COVID-19 if you vote in-person during the November election. 45%

40%

35%

30%

25%

20% 42%

15% 32%

10% 14% 5% 12%

0% Very concerned Somewhat concerned Not too concerned Not at all concerned Outreach: So far in 2020, has anyone from the Democratic or Republican Party, or a non-partisan civic group contacted you by email, text, phone, or in-person and encouraged you to become registered, or to vote in the election this November? 11

60%

50%

40%

30% 54%

20% 30% 10% 23%

7% 0% Contacted by someone from the Contacted by someone from the Contacted by a non-partisan civic No, I have not been contacted by any Democratic side Republican side group group Civic & Political Participation: Discussion of political issues with family and friends is prevalent, but other forms of civic and political participation remain low. 12

Worn a campaign button, or put up a sign in your yard, or a 14% 9% 78% sticker on your car?

Contributed money to a campaign or organization? 8% 18% 75%

Worked for a candidate, pol. party, or campaign org? 8% 10% 83%

Discussed the politics of Puerto Rico with family or 30% 27% 51% friends?

Discussed politics with family and friends? 44% 29% 40%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

In person Online Have not done Civic Integration 13

Attended a neigborhood meeting 12 17 72

Participated in an activity with a labor union 9 11 81

Participated in an activity with a business association 12 18 73

Participated in a community event through your job 16 15 72

Participated in team or club sport 15 10 76

Participated in an activity at a school 14 23 67

Attended Church 24 25 55

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

in person online have not done COVID-19: The Puerto Rican community is clearly feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in a personal manner. 14

Do you have any family or friends who Have you or a family member or have become ill due to the coronavirus friend here in the mainland become ill on the island? due to the coronavirus? 80% 80%

70% 70%

60% 60%

50% 50%

40% 40% 73% 30% 30% 62%

20% 20% 38% 27% 10% 10%

0% 0% Yes No Yes No COVID-19: Please indicate whether any of the circumstances apply to you or someone in your household because of the ongoing coronavirus: 15

Have lost a significant amount of retirement or savings 33%

Had trouble making rent or mortgage payment 35%

Lost access to childcare 20%

Lost your employer-provided health insurance or other benefits 18%

Had difficulty buying or finding necessities such as food, 42% household supplies, or medicine

Had work hours cut, or pay cut, but kept their job 42%

Lost their job at some point 33%

Continues to go to work outside of the house 46%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% National Issues: Thinking about the 2020 election, what are the most important issues facing Puerto Ricans and Hispanics that our politicians should address?

16

1.Responding to Coronavirus / COVID-19 31%

2.Stopping discrimination against immigrants and Latinos 21%

3.Unemployment / Creating more jobs 19%

4.Lowering the costs of health care 17%

5.Improving wages and incomes 16%

6.Protecting immigrant rights 16% Island Politics: Thinking about the politics on the island of Puerto Rico, are political leaders there doing a good job or a poor job generally? 17

45%

40% 39%

35% 34% 31% 31% 31% 31% 30% 26% 25% 23%

20% 17%

15% 13% 13% 12%

10%

5%

0% Total Ma in Island

Very good job Somewhat good job Not very good job Not a good job at all Hurricane Maria: Thinking about Hurricane Maria, were you or a family member, or a close friend negatively affected by the hurricane; like damaged property, lost job, lost electricity, or even a death? 18

50%

45%

40%

35%

30%

25% 45% 20%

15% 32% 24% 10% 19%

5%

0% Yes, I was affected Yes, a family member was Yes, my close friends No, none of these affected were affected Hurricane Maria: The federal government did not do enough to help the people of Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, delaying FEMA relief for months. And it has been too slow to help with the pandemic on the island. The federal government and political leaders often forget about and turn their back to Puerto Ricans. 19

60%

50%

40%

30%

50%

20% 31%

10% 13% 6% 0% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Puerto Rican Status: Preference when given six options 20

Island 34% 15% 24% 11% 8% 8%

Ma in 26% 22% 17% 12% 10% 12%

Total 30% 19% 20% 12% 9% 10%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Statehood Independence Keep current status Mo dified commonwealth Free association Something else Puerto Rican Status: Preference when given three options 21

Island 46% 36% 18%

Ma in 49% 31% 19%

Total 48% 33% 19%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Puerto Rico should become a state Puerto Rico should remain in its current status Puerto Rico should become an independent country Candidate Support: More or less likely to support a candidate who endorses Puerto Rican Statehood (basic and expanded descriptions) 22

If a candidate for office were to If a candidate for office were to endorse statehood, so that PRs would have the same rights as every endorse statehood for Puerto Rico American, and have 5 reps and 2 Senators in D.C., would that make you more or less would that make you more likely to support that likely to support them? candidate, or less likely? 90% 90% 80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 86% 74% 40% 30% 30% 20% 20% 26% 10% 10% 15% 0% 0% Mo re likely Less likely Mo re likely Less likely Puerto Rican Identity: How much is being Puerto Rican an important part of how you see yourself? 23

Island 73% 19% 6% 2%

Main 57% 29% 8% 5%

Total 63% 26% 7% 4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important