Employment and health care top the list of issues concerning Connecticut voters, according to a recent poll.
The survey by the non-partisan research group InformCT asked residents about issues important to them when voting for governor, the state legislature and U.S. Congress this November.
Topping the list of 14 issues cited in the survey was jobs at 64 percent.
“I see a lot of people wondering whether or not their jobs are going to be there over the next quarter or so, and whether they can count on that,” said Bob Santy, president and CEO of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, which oversees InformCT. “Some of that, I believe is because Connecticut has lagged behind the rest of the country in recovering from the recession.”
Following close behind jobs in the poll were health care and taxes at 63 percent, and education at 62 percent.
Hot button issues like gun policy, immigration, and national security were farther down on the list, but considered more important when voting for a candidate for U.S. Congress rather than governor. Climate change, foreign affairs and trade came in at the bottom of the list.
Santy sees Connecticut's continuing budget woes as a common thread in many of the responses.
“People are still concerned about the fiscal situation facing the state of Connecticut,” said Santy. “And that's going to be a big issue in the gubernatorial race particularly. And that also impacts jobs and growth in the economy. It's a cycle.”
InformCT surveyed 505 state residents, and the poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.