Washington, DC – Today Americans for Health Care, a project of SEIU, released a poll conducted by Lake Research Partners which reveals that health care is a top issue for voters across the country and was a powerful issue in deciding the outcome of the mid-term elections.  The poll was conducted November 5 – 7, 2006.

Key findings of the poll include:

• “Health care” and “prescription drugs” (27 percent) were tied with “The situation in Iraq” (27 percent) and second only to “Economy and jobs” (34 percent) as the top concerns of voters.

• Rising health care costs was the most intense economic concern of voters (29 percent).

• Health care has increased in salience since 2004, with 47 percent saying it was the most or one for the most important issues in making their vote for Congress, compared to 32 percent in 2004.

• Sixty-six (66) percent thought health care was discussed too little by the candidates.

• Seventy-four (74) percent of voters think health care should be a high priority for the new Congress.

For more poll results, go to www.ImAHealthCareVoter.org.

“Across the country, many state and federal candidates were elected because they stepped up and addressed a top issue for Americans: health care,” said Jonathan Parker, director of Americans for Health Care. “This poll illustrates that voters want real, fundamental change on health care – and they want Congress, business and individuals to play a key role in reforming the system.  It’s a good lesson for all of the presumptive presidential candidates to learn.”


LakeResearchPartners designed and administered this survey which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers on behalf of SEIU/Americans for Health Care.  The survey reached 800 voters nationwide and was conducted November 5 – 7 2006. The data were weighted by gender, party identification, region, age, education, race, and union status.  The margin of error is +/- 3.5%.