UTSA’s new polling center taps local voter attitudes heading into upcoming elections

AUGUST 23, 2024 — The UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) is gauging the attitudes of San Antonio voters as election season draws nearer.

The recently established center, which is housed in the university’s Department of Political Science and Geography, has an interest in learning about voter opinions on local issues such as the charter amendments that will be included on this November’s ballot and the San Antonio municipal elections in May 2025. 

CPOR will conduct surveys in September and late October to assess the opinions of registered voters in Bexar County.

“Now that this foundation is in place, we will be able to gauge impactful changes in perception leading up to the November 2024 and May 2025 elections.”

Early this summer, CPOR conducted a ‘level-setting’ poll of 633 registered voters on their awareness of the city charter amendmentsthat will be on the November ballot, opinions of local government leaders and views on the possibility of a new downtown arena for the San Antonio Spurs.

“Our initial poll was helpful identifying a large body of Bexar County voters and establishing a baseline understanding of their political views,” said Bryan Gervais, CPOR director and associate professor of political science. “Now that this foundation is in place, we will be able to gauge impactful changes in perception leading up to the November 2024 and May 2025 elections.”

Initial survey results showed that overall, few voters were aware of the proposed charter amendments. At the same time, most voters surveyed indicated trust in the city government to do the right thing just about always or most of the time. Opinions about the possibility of a new Spurs arena, in the early stages of discussion, were evenly divided among those having a particular point of view, while a significant portion were unsure about any move.

— Michelle Gaitan