[Mpls] 72 percent support bar/restaurant smoking ban

[Greg Abbott]

On May 27, 2004, at 11:12 AM, Michael Hohmann wrote:

> I believe that registered city voters actually
> represent a minority portion of the city population that should have 
> been
> surveyed,

If a majority of city residents are not registered to vote, and if a 
public opinion survey relying exclusively on registered voters is 
invalid, city elections themselves are not representative and are thus 
invalid measures of popular will.

Absurd conclusions can be drawn from this principle.  About 30,000 
people live in the 13th Ward, but in the last city election only about 
10,500 residents voted.  Hence the results of the 13th Ward election in 
2001 are invalid because the outcome represents only a minority of the 
residents of the ward.   :)

For what it's worth, I believe about 60-65 percent of city residents 
are registered to vote -- the city elections office will have the 
actual numbers, but I'd guess about 220,000 of 380,000 residents are 
registered (which is a pretty healthy percentage, when you exclude 
children under 18 who aren't eligible).

IMHO the survey is accurate -- a large majority of Minneapolitans are 
non-smokers, and they don't want to run the gauntlet of second-hand 
smoke in order to enjoy the amenities of their own city.

Greg Abbott
Linden Hills
13th Ward