Poll shows little unity among Utahns when it comes to mask mandates and who should enact them

A younger lady wears a KN95 masks in downtown Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Utahns are divided over the worth of masks throughout this stage of the pandemic, a ballot reveals.

Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information

In the case of public opinion surrounding masks mandates and who ought to enact them, Utahns are divided.

That’s in accordance with a brand new Deseret Information/Hinckley Institute of Politics ballot that reveals little consensus across the Legislature’s transfer to limit native governments and faculty districts from enacting masks mandates — and finally what governing physique ought to have the ability to impose such a mandate.

Lawmakers wasted no time on the difficulty this yr, with the Home voting 45-29 to finish the regionally imposed COVID-19 masks mandates in Salt Lake and Summit counties simply three days into the legislative session.

About 50% of respondents disapprove of the legislation, whereas 45% say lawmakers made the suitable resolution. Roughly 5% mentioned they don’t know.

Dan Jones & Associates performed the ballot of 815 registered Utah voters from Jan. 20 although Jan. 28. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.43 proportion factors.

Who ought to impose a masks mandate?

On the what governing physique ought to impose masks mandates, 44% say a well being division — 21% suppose it ought to fall to native well being officers, and 23% mentioned state officers.

About 11% mentioned the Legislature ought to be capable to impose masks mandates, and eight% mentioned an area faculty board.

And 23% mentioned nobody ought to have the flexibility to enact a masks mandate, a sentiment on show in the course of the contentious three-hour public remark interval that got here earlier than the Salt Lake County Council voted to uphold its mandate.

“I can agree with that,” mentioned Salt Lake County Councilwoman Dea Theodore, who advised the Deseret Information the 23% against any authorities entity imposing a masks mandate was a key takeaway. “That’s sort of been my stance all alongside, that people ought to have the suitable to decide on for themselves.”

In the course of the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers handed SB195, which scaled again emergency powers of the governor and mayors, but additionally allowed a framework for native governments to impose a masks mandate if it begins with a county well being division, then goes up the ladder to regionally elected officers.

Salt Lake County adopted that framework, solely to have the legislature “transfer the goalposts,” mentioned county Mayor Jenny Wilson, who advised the Deseret Information in January that she was annoyed by the legislation.

Earlier than it was rescinded by lawmakers, the council did vote to uphold the mandate — Theodore, who voted in opposition to it, mentioned she would have most popular to overturn it on the county stage.

“Nevertheless that is one thing that was affecting the state as a complete. And when that turned an element, then the state used its instruments to step in and override what had been voted on,” she mentioned.

Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton was one in every of two Republicans who voted to uphold the mandate. She says she’s not shocked by the ballot outcomes, particularly the assist Utahns have for well being coverage beginning at well being departments, whether or not it’s native or statewide.

“They’re those who've the expertise and the data and are this every single day, all day. And I feel they’re those who ought to be giving suggestions. Now I do suppose it’s good that elected representatives have to maneuver it ahead, or determine to not transfer it ahead, as a result of we’re a lot of various things,” she mentioned.

One factor is obvious — Utahns don’t need a mayor or governor to enact a masks mandate. Solely 5% mentioned a governor ought to have that energy, and 4% mentioned a mayor ought to. Roughly 5% mentioned they don’t know.

Lack of consensus extends to political events

Although the difficulty is usually framed as a partisan one, Republican voters are break up on the Legislature’s resolution to override the masks mandate in Salt Lake and Summit counties — 48% authorised and 47% disapproved.

That’s in step with the suggestions Winder Newton acquired from constituents after she voted to uphold the county’s mandate.

“I heard from loads of Republicans who possibly have been both detached or didn’t love the masks mandate, however have been furious to listen to that native management was usurped,” she mentioned.

The query of native management, and whether or not state lawmakers or county leaders ought to cross public well being measures, is on the coronary heart of the divide amongst Republican respondents, says Chris Karpowitz, political science professor at Brigham Younger College.

“Native management has been a conservative worth for a few years — for many years, even,” he mentioned. “If the individuals really feel just like the legislature is violating that principled place, then that’s vital. It signifies that the legislature doesn't have the total assist even of Republicans. ... I feel that’s one thing to look at very rigorously going ahead.”

Nonetheless, Karpowitz doesn’t suppose “anybody’s going to lose their subsequent election over this.” The shortage of consensus amongst GOP voters suggests the political ramifications for Republicans that voted in favor, or in opposition to, the masks mandate shall be manageable each on the county and state stage, he says.

Winder Newton mentioned she would have voted to uphold the mandate even when polling steered harsher political penalties.

“It seems to be like you possibly can have gone both approach, and you'll have any person sad. However for me, I at all times sleep higher at night time after I vote my conscience and I vote primarily based on information and what our well being professionals are and I can take a look at all of these items collectively as an alternative of what’s probably the most politically expedient,” she mentioned.

There’s extra of a consensus among the many Democrat voters surveyed, 59% of whom disapproved of the Legislature’s vote. Nonetheless, 36% authorised.

One of many largest political divisions is obvious within the query of who ought to impose a masks mandate — 31% of Republicans mentioned “nobody” in comparison with solely 6% of Democrats.

In an e mail, Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Erin Mendenhall says suggestions from constituents within the Democrat-leaning metropolis “is overwhelmingly supportive of our efforts to maintain youngsters, academics, residents, companies and guests secure.”

“I stand by my choices and insurance policies we’ve maintained for the reason that begin of the pandemic. Our choices shall be information pushed and we'll do every part we are able to to maintain our residents wholesome and secure. On the finish of the day, I belief our public well being officers and their steering,” she mentioned.

Extra Democrats say the state well being division ought to be capable to enact a mandate, too. About 36% mentioned the Utah Division of Well being ought to have that energy, a sentiment solely 12% of Republicans assist.

There’s bipartisan assist for native well being departments, with about 22% of each Republicans and Democrats saying they need to be capable to subject a masks mandate.

Including ‘uncertainty into the method’

Having gone by means of the steps outlined by the Legislature to enact a masks mandate, then days later having that mandate overturned, Winder Newton says the method of passing public well being measures shall be extra sophisticated shifting ahead.

Now she says county leaders will seemingly ask the Legislature for a letter of assist “earlier than we undergo the difficulty of making an attempt to evaluate what’s proper for our group.”

“After the current actions of going by means of a fairly strong course of in Salt Lake County after which having the Legislature simply overturn our order I feel makes most leaders somewhat gun shy to do something sooner or later with out the Legislature giving their assist,” she mentioned.

In the meantime Theodore says there isn’t a hypothetical threshold, whether or not it’s introduced on by rising circumstances or a brand new variant, that will make her change her stance on a masks mandate.

“I feel what we’ve realized, until you’re utilizing a particular sort of masks, which I’m not completely positive does truly work, is the masks mandates simply haven’t been efficient,” she mentioned.

Karpowitz says the final yr — the place the Legislature scaled again the governor’s emergency powers, created a framework for native governments to impose a masks mandate, then overruled an area ordinance that adopted the very tips they established — might make it troublesome for county leaders to enact significant public well being coverage sooner or later.

“It injects an excessive amount of uncertainty into the method,” he mentioned. “And I can solely think about how irritating it's for public well being officers who're making an attempt to observe the science with a altering risk.”

Correction: A earlier model referred to Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton as Aimee Winder-Newton.