Primary Election Poll: Measures 2 and 4 | Video

KFYR-TV | 6/11/2012

A couple of measures dealing with property taxes and the Fighting Sioux nickname were the centerpieces for the third installment of our Mason Dixon poll of North Dakota voters. The outcome of those two measures will surprise some people.

Measure 2, which proposes eliminating property taxes, has created a lot of interest. There has been an avalanche of advertising from each side and meetings held all over the state by each side.

North Dakotans apparently are happy with the status quo on taxes and do not want the state legislature in charge of doling out the dollars.

We polled 404 adults who said they were likely voters and the "no" votes own a commanding 70 to 21 margin over the "yes" votes. Only nine percent of those polled were undecided. It would appear that things will not change in North Dakota`s property tax arena. The "no" votes won in every demographic, garnering at least 61 percent support across the board.

The Fighting Sioux nickname issue has also prompted a flood of publicity. It appears that North Dakotans are ready to quit the battle. They were asked if they thought North Dakota should repeal the legal requirement that the University of North Dakota use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

The "yes" votes hold a comfortable 59 to 36 margin. Support for getting rid of the nickname and logo is strongest in the Fargo-Moorhead area. There, the numbers show a 70 to 26 margin for the "yes" votes. The approval margin is smaller in western North Dakota where the measure only passes 50 to 44 percent.

There is a political division on the measure. Those who said they were Republicans want to keep the name. The "no" votes won with Republicans by a 50 to 44 margin.

Our poll on the measures has a margin for error of plus or minus five percent.

This is the last chapter for this poll, but we will be back with new numbers in September and November.

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