Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for December 9, 2021

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
NOTD 12 09 21.png

By Scott Rasmussen

The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

December 9, 2021: The latest numbers on the pandemic show that 32% now believe the worst is behind us. That’s down eight points from a week ago and 14 points from a month ago.[1]

A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 40% now believe the worst is yet to come. These numbers reflect a significant increase in pessimism. It’s the first time in two months that more voters expressed the negative view rather than the positive option.[1]

Perceptions about the pandemic have varied over time. When the lockdowns first began, a majority of voters believed the pandemic would end by Memorial Day 2020.[1]

In 2021, optimism rose when the vaccines became available. By May, 56% believed the worst was behind us. However, confidence fell over the summer with the arrival of the Delta variant. By July, 28% still believed the worst had already come and gone. Confidence began to grow again in early October before falling again in November.[1]

Worst of Pandemic is Behind Us Worst of Pandemic is Still to Come Net
Dec. 1-3 32% 40% -8%
Nov. 22-23 40% 37% +3%
Nov. 15-16 43% 34% +9%
Nov. 8-11 46% 28% +18%
Nov. 4-7 44% 29% +15%
Oct. 28-30 40% 30% +10%
Oct. 11-13 38% 34% +4%
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 28% 42% -14%
Sept. 14-15 28% 45% -17%
Aug. 20-22 25% 48% -23%
Aug. 5-7 29% 43% -14%
July 29-31 28% 45% -17%
July 22-24 34% 38% -4%
July 15-17 37% 33% +4%
May 27-29 56% 20% +36%
May 20-22 52% 21% +31%
Apr. 29-May 1 50% 24% +26%
Apr. 15-17 41% 32% +9%
Mar. 4-6 42% 28% +14%
Feb. 18-20 39% 31% +8%
Jan. 28-30 33% 40% -7%
Dec. 10-12 21% 62% -41%
Nov. 27-28 18% 68% -50%
Nov. 12-14 22% 62% -40%
Oct. 15-17 22% 56% -34%
Oct. 8-10 27% 52% -25%
Oct. 1-3 24% 55% -31%
Sept. 3-5 29% 49% -20%
Aug. 13-15 20% 59% -39%
July 23-25 15% 63% -48%
June 4-6 29% 42% -13%
April 9-11 16% 60% -44%

[1]

Data released earlier showed that 49% of voters believe relaxing vaccine mandates, mask requirements, and social distancing guidelines would be good for the economy. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 30% disagree.[2]


Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.



  • To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.

Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here to check out the latest update.

The Number of the Day is broadcast on local stations across the country. An archive of these broadcasts can be found here.

Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

Ballotpedia is the nonprofit, nonpartisan Encyclopedia of American Politics.

Get the Number of the Day in your inbox


See also


Footnotes