A poll was taken on July 20, 2010 of Seattle voters who are likely to vote in the Seattle City Council elections in 2011. The poll, conducted by the firm Win Power Stragies, asked about:

1. The likelihood that a voter would support a candidate for city council who approves a tunnel contract with the state that leaves Seattle on the hook for cost overruns.
2. The likelihood that a voter would approve or reject such a contract if there were a ballot referendum on it.

More than half of voters polled, 51.6 percent said that they would be somewhat or very unlikely to support a Seattle City Councilmember who voted to sign a contract with the State that would put Seattle on the hook for cost overruns for the deep bore tunnel. Only 35.2 percent said they were somewhat or very likely to support such a councilmember.

When asked whether they would support the tunnel in an up or down vote in a referendum 48.8 percent of the respondents said they would vote "no" on contract obligating Seattle to pay for overruns. Only 32.5 percent said they would vote to approve the contract.

Complete results, including cross-tabs: (PDF) (jpg1) (jpg2)

Poll demographics and weighting information are available here (PDF).

Press release: (PDF)

There are 411 responses, for a margin of error of 4.9%.

Here is the complete text of the two questions:

Question 1: Effect of a Councilmember Approving a Tunnel Contract with the State

The state legislature passed a law in 2009 supporting the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bore tunnel under downtown Seattle. The state estimates the cost of replacing the Viaduct will be over four billion dollars. State law says that all cost overruns will have to be paid by Seattle taxpayers, not the State. Several Seattle City Council members want to sign a contract with the State agreeing to the tunnel and accepting the state law that makes Seattle taxpayers liable for all cost overruns. Press 1 if you are very likely to support a Council member who signed this contract. Press 2 if you are somewhat likely to support a Council member who signed this contract. Press 3 if you are somewhat unlikely to support a Council member who signed this contracts. Press 4 if you are very unlikely to support a Council member who signed this contract. Press 5 if you’re not sure.

Responses:

Question 2: Effect of a Councilmember Approving a Tunnel Contract with the State

If the Seattle City Council signs such a contract with the State accepting Seattle taxpayers will be liable for all cost overruns for construction of a deep bore tunnel, some Seattle citizens want to put the contract to a ballot referendum. Would you vote to approve or reject such a contract? Press 1 if you would vote to approve the contract. Press 2 if you would vote to reject the contract.

Responses: