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Poll Shows North Carolinians Divided On Whether To Reopen Schools In Fall

A masked woman looks out her window.
Victoria Bouloubasis for Enlace Latino NC/Southerly

According to a recent poll from Elon University, Governor Roy Cooper has way more support among Democrats for his mandate to wear masks in public.

Ninety-one percent of Democrats who responded to the survey -- versus 57% of Republicans -- support such a policy. But the poll results are less clear when it comes to reopening schools this fall.

The online poll asked more than 1,400 North Carolinians whether they support a full-time return to K-12 classes, a part-time return, or keeping students at home with online learning.

A full-time return had 34% support, part-time had 38%, and 29% support the stay-at-home option, according to Poll Director Jason Husser.

"This division was true in pretty much every sub-group," Husser said. "There was not a clear consensus favored among Democrats, Republicans, among men versus women."

Still, Husser said more Republicans, 46%, support a full-time return than Democrats, at 23%.

Rusty Jacobs is WUNC's Voting and Election Integrity Reporter.
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