Candidate’s Position on Increased Whistleblower Protections Influences 44% of Likely Voters

A poll commissioned by Whistleblower Network News (WNN) shows that most adults, voters, and likely voters across the political parties are more likely to vote for congressional candidates who support strengthening laws that protect employees who report corporate fraud. The poll was conducted by Marist Poll on behalf of WNN in September 2020.

The poll asked respondents about their voting preferences in regard to congressional candidates who support strengthening laws that protect employees who report corporate fraud. 44% of adults said they would be more likely to vote for someone who supported stronger protections for corporate whistleblowers; 43% of registered voters and 44% of likely voters agreed.

Of the respondents surveyed, 56% of Democrats and 45% of Independents said that a candidate’s stance on whistleblower protections would influence their vote and make them more likely to vote for said candidate. 27% of Republicans surveyed said that a candidate’s support of whistleblower protection laws would make them more likely to vote for that candidate, while 63% of Republican respondents said a candidate’s stance on whistleblower protections would not influence their vote.

Individuals in the 18-29 age group responded most strongly to the voting question, with 54% of respondents stating that candidates’ support of protections for corporate whistleblowers would impact their vote.

42% of individuals aged 30-44 responded that they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported corporate whistleblower protections. In comparison, 51% of that age group said that a candidate’s stance on whistleblower protection would not impact their vote.

Respondents aged 45-59 exhibited a reduced level of support for whistleblowers; only 39% of individuals said that they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported protections for corporate whistleblowers, with 56% of individuals in that age group stating that their vote would not change based on a candidate’s stance on corporate whistleblower protections.

Respondents aged 60 and older were mixed in their responses to this question: 43% of individuals in this age group said that they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported protections for corporate whistleblowers, while 45% of respondents said that their votes would not be influenced.

The poll also found that 94% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, and 88% of Independents support stronger legal protections for government whistleblowers. Across the categories of adults, registered voters, and likely voters, 86% of each group agreed that federal employees who blow the whistle should have stronger legal protections. The results demonstrate overwhelming support for stronger legal protections for government whistleblowers among adults, voters, and likely voters who were surveyed.

All of the poll data, including the individuals surveyed’ demographic information, is available at Whistleblower Network News Survey.