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Survey of BloomingtonVoters (July 2004) Page 2 Voters Recognize the Benefits of Smoke-Free Public Places and Workplaces Eight out of ten voters (83 percent) believe that ex- posure to secondhand smoke is a serious (53 percent) or moderate (31 percent) health hazard. Eighty-four (84) per- cent of voters agree that all Bloomington workers should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace. These concerns translate to the very strong belief among voters (by a margin of 76 percent to 15 percent) that the right of customers and employees to breathe clean air in restaurants and bars is Voters Feel The Right to Breathe Clean Air Is More Important Than The Right to Smoke In Restaurants and Bars WhFCh on4 9f the �d+►� ab yeu tl�Ink IS mol'e tmportant? �The rights of customers and employees to breathe clean air in restaurants and bars The rights of smokers fio smoke in restaurants and bars R�h�l1n 4��e p1�r, �Ir Right of smokers to smoke in restaurants and bars �x ra� �rx e� eax iare �.•� M�}��..W�y� Y.r�•. aY.��i��i ��.,� ��,�,.��. more important than the right of smokers to smoke in these places. Even 42 percent of regular and occasional smokers believe the right of people to breathe clean air in restaurants and bars is more important than their right to smoke in those places. Patrons of restaurants and bars in Bloomington indicated that these establishments would be healthier and more enjoyable if they were smoke-fiee. More than eight out of ten Bloomington voters (85 percent) believe that these places would be healthier, and 83 percent want to be able to enjoy restaurants and bars in the city without smelling like smoke at the end of the evening. The poll also found that Bloomington voters are more likely to visit restaurants and bars if the smoke- free law is enacted. Nearly four times as many voters would go out to restauran,ts and bars more often as would go out less often if all Bloomington restaurants and bars were smoke-fiee (26 percent more to 7 percent less, with the balance indicating that the law would not a£fect how often they go out). Impact on Candidate Support Finally, the survey shows that voters will express their support for smoke-free workplace legislation at the polls. By a margin of more than twato-one (60 percent to 27 percent), Bloomington voters prefer a candidate for city office who supports a law to prohibit smoking in all workplaces over one who opposes it. This support comes ftom a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents. Additionally, a strong majority of voters (62 percent) would have a more favorable view of a candidatewho supported a law that would prohibit smoking in public places and workplaces in Bloomington.