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Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for March 17, 2021

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By Scott Rasmussen

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

March 17, 2021: Thirty-nine percent (39%) of voters say they were glad to use COVID as an excuse for avoiding social activities that they didn’t want to attend. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 55% did not and 6% are not sure.[1]

When asked to describe the events they were most pleased to miss, many cited weddings, reunions, family get-togethers, and holiday gatherings. Business-focused social events and school activities were also mentioned. One particularly blunt respondent said they used COVID as an excuse to avoid “Any event I deem useless or pointless.” Another said that being an introvert, this excuse provided a great sense of relief.[1]

Among those who believe the worst of the pandemic is still to come, 50% used COVID as an excuse to get out of unwanted social events. Among those who believe the worst is behind us, just 34% did so.[1]

As with many other findings on the pandemic, there is a significant partisan divide. Forty-seven percent (47%) of Democrats were pleased to use the COVID excuse. Just 27% of Republicans did the same. Urban voters were somewhat more likely to express this view than those who live in the suburbs or rural areas.[1]

A separate question found that 19% expect to attend fewer social events when life returns to some sense of normal than they did before the pandemic. Twenty-nine percent (29%) expect to do more socializing and 47% expect it won’t be all that different.[1]

Data released earlier showed that 31% of voters say that the coronavirus pandemic created some positive benefits in their life. That total includes 60% of those who work for a school or a college.



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