A recent survey conducted by Mason Strategies for Indy Politics reveals that nearly half of Marion County voters feel the public education system is on the wrong track, with only 31% supporting it. A majority of 55% support school choice, particularly among Republicans and Black voters, while opinions on charter schools and Indianapolis Public Schools are mixed. Overall, dissatisfaction with public education stands out as a significant concern for voters in an otherwise content county.

1. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 1
School Daze
Almost half of Marion County voters think the county’s public education system is on the wrong track in a new
survey for Indy Politics conducted by Mason Strategies. In addition, by a 55 percent to 40 percent majority,
voters support school choice to let parents choose where to send their children.
The survey of 400 likely voters, conducted Aug 11-14, shows only 31 percent of respondents thought Marion
County schools are on the right track. This dissatisfaction is held more by Republicans (57 percent) and
Independents (51 percent), but also more Democrats feel schools are on the wrong track (44 percent) than the
right track (35 percent)
There are no significant differences by age groups or by ethnicity; however, women are more negative as only
27 percent say public education is on the right track, compared to 36 percent of men.
Voters feel similarly about one specific school district, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). However, voters are
split about public charter schools in Marion County with 34 percent saying they are on the right track and 37
saying wrong track, a statistical tie. While there were no significant difference in views of charter schools by age,
gender, or even political affiliation, a majority of black voters (51 percent) are positive on charter schools,
compared to 36 percent who say they’re on the wrong track.
“In a county where folks are largely content, public education stands out as a source of disapproval for voters,”
said Stephen Spiker, President and owner of Mason Strategies. “Marion County’s charter schools are one of the
few bright spots, particularly among black voters.”
Black voters are also more opinionated on the IPS district, as over 90 percent answered with either “right track”
or “wrong track”, compared to 29 percent of white voters who couldn’t answer the question. However, black
opinions on IPS are split, with 46 percent having a positive view and 46 percent having a negative view.
Most Marion County voters (55 percent) support using taxpayer dollars to provide school choice to allow
parents to place their children in the public or private school which best serves their needs. Support for school
choice is highest among Republicans (64 percent), Independents (56 percent), and black voters (60 percent).
Democrats are split at 48 percent supporting and 48 percent opposing.
“School choice is not only a popular policy in Marion County,” said Spiker “but it is also one that divides
Democratic voters and presents a real outreach opportunity to black voters, who are more highly engaged on
education issues than other voters.”
The poll had a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent.

2. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 2
Topline Results - Indianapolis Survey
n=400 likely voters
August 11 - 14, 2018
Introduction & Screener Questions
1. First, are you or any member of your family a member of the news media, a public relations
company, or an active participant with any political campaign?
No 100%
2. When there are local elections for mayor and the city-county council, do you always vote, almost
always vote, vote most of the time, vote some of the time, hardly ever vote, or never vote?
Always vote 66%
Almost always vote 15%
Vote most of the time 19%
Mayor’s Ballot
3. [EMBARGOED FOR FUTURE RELEASE]
Images
Next, I’m going to read you some names. For each, please tell me whether you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of that person. If you have no opinion or have never heard of them, just say so. IF
FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE, PROBE: Is that very or somewhat? RANDOMIZE SERIES
TOTAL
FAV
TOTAL
UNFAV
Very
Fav
S’what
Fav
S’what
Unfav
Very
Unfav
No
Opinion
Never
Heard of
4. Donald Trump 38% 58% 29% 9% 6% 52% 4% *
5. Mike Pence 43% 51% 29% 14% 9% 42% 5% *
6. [EMBARGOED FOR
FUTURE RELEASE]
7. Pete Buttigieg 41% 28% 21% 20% 5% 23% 15% 13%
8. [EMBARGOED FOR
FUTURE RELEASE]
9. Curtis Hill 14% 30% 4% 10% 11% 19% 27% 27%

3. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 3
Issues & Job Approval
10. [EMBARGOED FOR FUTURE RELEASE]
11. Moving on, would you say that things in Indiana are headed in the right direction, or have things
gotten off on the wrong track?
Right Direction 54%
Wrong Track 33%
DK/Refused 13%
12. Do you approve or disapprove of the job that Eric Holcomb is doing as Governor? PROBE: Is that
strongly or somewhat?
TOTAL APPROVE 60%
Strongly approve 17%
Somewhat approve 43%
TOTAL DISAPPROVE 24%
Strongly disapprove 16%
Somewhat disapprove 8%
DK/Refused 16%
13. Now thinking about things here in the city, would you say that things in the city of Indianapolis
are headed in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?
Right Direction 53%
Wrong Track 38%
DK/Refused 9%
14. [EMBARGOED FOR FUTURE RELEASE]

4. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 4
15. As you may know, the City-County Council governs the city of Indianapolis and Marion County,
and has 25 districts. How familiar are you with the City-Councilor that represents your district?
TOTAL FAMILIAR 32%
Very familiar 9%
Somewhat familiar 23%
TOTAL NOT FAMILIAR 66%
Not too familiar 32%
Not at all familiar 34%
DK/Refused 3%
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the job that the City-County Council as a whole is doing?
PROBE: Is that strongly or somewhat?
TOTAL APPROVE 43%
Strongly approve 5%
Somewhat approve 38%
TOTAL DISAPPROVE 31%
Strongly disapprove 21%
Somewhat disapprove 10%
DK/Refused 26%
17. If the election were held tomorrow, would you [ROTATE] vote to re-elect your City-County
Council Member OR vote to replace your City-County Council Member?
Re-elect 30%
Replace 25%
Undecided [vol.] 28%
DK/Refused 17%

5. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 5
18. If the election for your city-county council member were held tomorrow, would you vote for
[ROTATE] the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate [END ROTATE] in your district?
IF VOTE: Is that definitely or likely?
TOTAL REPUBLICAN 31%
Definitely Republican 18%
Likely Republican 13%
TOTAL DEMOCRAT 49%
Definitely Democrat 31%
Likely Democrat 18%
Undecided/Refused 21%
Education Policy
19. Switching topics to education… Based on your experience, would you say public education in
Marion County is on the right track or wrong track?
Right Track 31%
Wrong Track 49%
DK/Refused 19%
20. Now thinking specifically one type of public schools, would you say charter schools in Marion
County are on the right track or wrong track?
Right Track 34%
Wrong Track 37%
DK/Refused 28%
21. Based on what you know specifically about the Indianapolis Public Schools district, or I-P-S
district, would you say it is on the right track or wrong track?
Right Track 32%
Wrong Track 46%
DK/Refused 22%

6. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 6
22. Do you favor or oppose using tax dollars to provide school choice to allow parents to place their
children in the public or private school which best serves their needs?
TOTAL FAVOR 55%
Strongly favor 32%
Somewhat favor 23%
TOTAL OPPOSE 40%
Strongly oppose 11%
Somewhat oppose 29%
Undecided/Refused 6%
Demographics
23. Wrapping up, I have just a few more questions for demographic purposes only. First, in which of
the following ranges is your age:
18-40 26%
41-54 24%
55-64 26%
65 or older 25%
Refused 1%
24. Gender:
Male 53%
Female 47%
25. Which of the following best describes your race or ethnicity?
White 69%
Hispanic or Latino 2%
African-American 22%
Asian-American 1%
Something else 5%
Refused 1%

7. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 7
26. If you had to label yourself, would you say you are a [ROTATE] liberal, moderate, or
conservative in your political beliefs? IF LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE, PROBE: Is that very
[liberal/conservative] or somewhat?
TOTAL CONSERVATIVE 32%
Very conservative 16%
Somewhat conservative 16%
TOTAL MODERATE 38%
TOTAL LIBERAL 28%
Somewhat liberal 17%
Very liberal 11%
DK/Refused 3%
27. In politics, do you generally consider yourself to be a (ROTATE) Republican, Independent, or
Democrat? IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, PROBE: Is that a strong (Republican/Democrat) or
not-so-strong?
TOTAL REPUBLICAN 27%
Strong Republican 19%
Not-so-strong Republican 8%
TOTAL INDEPENDENT 26%
TOTAL DEMOCRAT 42%
Not-so-strong Democrat 10%
Strong Democrat 32%
Other 1%
DK/Refused 4%
28. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Some high school 4%
Graduated high school 29%
Some college or associate’s 32%
Graduated college 21%
Masters/Post-Graduate 15%

8. Mason Strategies, LLC for Indy Politics August 2019
Indianapolis August 2019 Survey – TOPLINE RESULTS 8
29. Which of the following categories best describes your annual household income?
IF REFUSED INITIALLY: This information is for demographic purposes and is confidential. Which
of these broad income categories best describes your annual household income?
Less than $25,000 7%
$25,000 to less than $50,000 24%
$50,000 to less than $100,000 31%
$100,000 to less than $150,000 14%
$150,000 or more 9%
DK/Refused 15%
Thank you for your time. This call was authorized and paid for by Indy Politics.
Methodology Statement
On behalf of IndyPolitics.org, Mason Strategies, LLC, a research firm located out of Woodbridge, Virginia, conducted a telephone
survey of 400 likely voters in Marion County, Indiana. The survey was completed from August 11 - 14, 2018 using live
interviewers from a call center who called of landline and cell phones. 50% of the interviews were completed on cell phones.
The survey used RBS (Registration-Based Sampling) methodology, using voter registration records to create a random sample of
voters who have voted in at least two of the previous four general elections, or were newly registered to vote. The final sample
was weighted for age and education.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.9% at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error applies to each individual data
point at the topline level. When applying margins of error to relative analysis (e.g., a ballot test), it would apply to each data
point and not the margin between the two. Thus, even a difference greater than 4.9% between two data points may not be
statistically significant. Sampling error is larger for subgroup analysis.
Pollster Contact:
Stephen Spiker
President & Owner of Mason Strategies
(757) 618-0676
email: stephen.spiker@gmail.com
www.masonstrategies.com
Sponsor Contact:
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz
IndyPolitics.org
(317) 727-1250
attyabdul@gmail.com