USA - Connecticut. Poll: voters oppose death penalty repeal.

Poll: voters oppose death penalty repeal. A new poll shows a majority of Connecticut voters disapprove of how the General Assembly has handled the death penalty, voting to abolish capital punishment for future crimes. The survey, released today by Quinnipiac University, shows 51 % of registered voters disapprove of the legislature's handling of the issue, compared to 29 % who approve. While Connecticut voters support the death penalty in general 62 - 30 percent, they are evenly divided on the preferred punishment for a person convicted of murder, as 46 percent want the death penalty while 46 percent want life in prison with no chance of parole. When half of the voters in the survey are asked if the State Legislature's decision to abolish the death penalty is a "good idea" or "bad idea," they say "bad idea" 60 - 34 percent, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds. When the other half of voters are asked about abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life in prison with no chance of parole, they say "bad idea" 54 - 42 percent. Voters who attend religious services weekly say "good idea" 50 - 46 percent. Voters who attend services less frequently say "bad idea" 58 - 38 percent. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is expected to soon sign the repeal legislation into law. The survey of 1,745 voters has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.4 % points.