Independence Remains Off Of Voters’ Agenda!

News Release: HAMILTON, Bermuda – Voters continue to place independence for Bermuda on the back-burner. In a recent poll, nearly 8 in 10 voters (78%), were not in favour of independence at this time, the highest level since 2007. Notably, opposition to independence had been trending downward since 2009, but has risen sharply since 2019, quite possibly due to the economic challenges surrounding the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war (see Chart 1). The fact that support for independence was highest in 2019 at 27%, then falling to match the lowest level of 14% obtained in 2011, lends credence to this theory (see Chart 2).

By demographics, nearly all Whites (98%) were inclined to oppose independence, compared to persons of Other races (83%) and Blacks (68%), a significant finding. By gender, there was little difference – 79 percent of females opposed independence compared to 76% of males. By age, those most opposed were between the ages of 35-54 (85%), followed by those 55 and older (76%), and those 18-34 (68%). By household income, the highest income group, those earning $156,000 or more were most opposed (81%), but those at the lower end of the income spectrum, whose household income was less than $76,000, were equally opposed at 80 percent. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of middle-income earners (between $76,000 and $156,000) were opposed to independence.

The survey was conducted among 368 voters by random telephone dialling and online. Some online responses were rejected as their telephone numbers could not be verified. The survey was carried out between July 03^rd and August 07^th. The survey has a margin of error of (plus or minus) ± 5.1%.

Chart 1