ProEnglish polls: Americans support official English

Vast Majority of Americans Support Official English

National polling data indicates that the overwhelming majority of Americans, including Hispanics, support making English the official language.

A 2009 poll found that 84% of Americans support making English the official language of the United States. [11]
77% of Hispanics believe English should be the official language of government operations. [2]
82% of Americans support legislation that would require the federal government to conduct business solely in English.[3]
74% of Americans support all election ballots and other government documents being printed in English.[1]
83% of Americans believe new immigrants should learn English.[1]
85% of Americans believe it is very hard or somewhat hard for immigrants to get a good job or be successful in this country without learning English.[12]
79% of Republicans and 59% of Democrats reject the idea that all Americans should know multiple languages. Among unaffiliated voters, 68% say their fellow citizens do not need to know a language other than English.[14]

Government should do more to preserve role of English
92% of Americans believe that preserving English as our common language is vital to maintaining our unity; 69% agree that the United States is at risk of becoming 'disunited' by language. [4]
78% of Americans believe that the government should do more to help immigrants learn English; More Americans also believe that Congress and the President aren't doing enough to preserve America's unity in the English language (60%-26%) [4]
79% of Americans believe immigrants should be required to learn English before they are granted citizenship; only 14% disagree.[5]
68% of Americans oppose bilingual or multilingual election ballots. [6]

Most immigrants say learning English is essential.

91% of foreign-born Latino immigrants agree that learning English is essential to succeed in the U.S., according to a 2002 Kaiser Family Foundation poll.[7]
A 2002 Carnegie/Public Agenda poll found that by more than a 2-1 margin immigrants themselves say the U.S. should expect new immigrants to learn English.[8]

Most immigrants reject "bilingual education."

The 2002 Carnegie/Public Agenda poll found that 73% of immigrants believe schools should teach English as quickly as possible. 63% said that they believe that all teaching should be done in English, while only 32% supported allowing some teaching in their native languages.[8]

Most Hispanic adults favor making English the nation's official language.

Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic adults --65 percent -- favor making English the nation's official language.[9]
68% of Hispanics say that the goal of bilingual education programs should be to make sure that students learn English well. [13]

Most young Americans want English as the official language.

72% of young adults favor a law making English the official language of the United States.[10]

Most Americans reject the idea that requiring people to speak English is racist.

82% of Americans reject the idea that requiring people to speak English is a form of racism or bigotry, up three points from 2007. That includes 90% of Republicans, 85% of unaffiliated adults and 72% of Democrats. [11]

Most U.S. voters believe if you move to America, you should
adopt American culture.

80% of U.S. voters believe those who move to America should adopt American culture. This level of support has been roughly consistent for many years. [11]

Support for official English is across partisan lines.

Official English is supported by 96% of Republicans, 74% of Democrats and 85% of adults not affiliated with either major party. [11]

Most Americans support English-Only on the job.

81% of American voters day a U.S. company should be allowed to require employees to speak English on the job. [11]

[1] Survey conducted by the Winston Group in August 2007. 1,000 voters were randomly chosen for the poll.

[2] 1,007 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, March 14-16, 2006.
The margin of error was +/- 3.2%

[3] 1,000 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, January 15-18, 2004.
The margin of error was +/- 3.2%

[4] 1,019 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, December 12-14, 2006.
The margin of error was +/- 3.2%

[5] 1,000 likely voters were polled Rasmussen Reports, June 17-18. 2005.
The margin of error was +/- 3%.

[6] Poll of adults by Rasmussen Reports, June 30, 2006.

[7] 3,000 Hispanic adults were polled by the Pew Hispanic Center in December, 2002.
The margin of error was +/- 2.41%.

[8] 1,002 foreign-born adults were polled in the fall of 2002 by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The margin of error was +/- 3%.

[9] Survey from Zogby International.

[10] Survey conducted by Harvard University.

[11]Rasmussen Reports, May 2009

[12] Gallop poll, 2001.

[13] The Latino Coalition survery of 1,000 Hispanic adults, 2002.

[14] Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, June 2008.


Action Urge Congress to defend English Model official English statute Donate Current Legislation State Profiles ProEnglish BLOG Sign up for Twitter Email sign up Issues Official English Bilingual Education English on the Job Citizenship and Immigration Bilingual Ballots Puerto Rican Statehood Ending E.O. 13166, the "Multilingual Mandate" Contact us: 1601 N. Kent St. Suite 1100 Arlington, VA 22209 ph: (703) 816-8821		Vast Majority of Americans Support Official English National polling data indicates that the overwhelming majority of Americans, including Hispanics, support making English the official language. A 2009 poll found that 84% of Americans support making English the official language of the United States. [11] 77% of Hispanics believe English should be the official language of government operations. [2] 82% of Americans support legislation that would require the federal government to conduct business solely in English.[3] 74% of Americans support all election ballots and other government documents being printed in English.[1] 83% of Americans believe new immigrants should learn English.[1] 85% of Americans believe it is very hard or somewhat hard for immigrants to get a good job or be successful in this country without learning English.[12] 79% of Republicans and 59% of Democrats reject the idea that all Americans should know multiple languages. Among unaffiliated voters, 68% say their fellow citizens do not need to know a language other than English.[14] Government should do more to preserve role of English 92% of Americans believe that preserving English as our common language is vital to maintaining our unity; 69% agree that the United States is at risk of becoming 'disunited' by language. [4] 78% of Americans believe that the government should do more to help immigrants learn English; More Americans also believe that Congress and the President aren't doing enough to preserve America's unity in the English language (60%-26%) [4] 79% of Americans believe immigrants should be required to learn English before they are granted citizenship; only 14% disagree.[5] 68% of Americans oppose bilingual or multilingual election ballots. [6] Most immigrants say learning English is essential. 91% of foreign-born Latino immigrants agree that learning English is essential to succeed in the U.S., according to a 2002 Kaiser Family Foundation poll.[7] A 2002 Carnegie/Public Agenda poll found that by more than a 2-1 margin immigrants themselves say the U.S. should expect new immigrants to learn English.[8] Most immigrants reject "bilingual education." The 2002 Carnegie/Public Agenda poll found that 73% of immigrants believe schools should teach English as quickly as possible. 63% said that they believe that all teaching should be done in English, while only 32% supported allowing some teaching in their native languages.[8] Most Hispanic adults favor making English the nation's official language. Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic adults --65 percent -- favor making English the nation's official language.[9] 68% of Hispanics say that the goal of bilingual education programs should be to make sure that students learn English well. [13] Most young Americans want English as the official language. 72% of young adults favor a law making English the official language of the United States.[10] Most Americans reject the idea that requiring people to speak English is racist. 82% of Americans reject the idea that requiring people to speak English is a form of racism or bigotry, up three points from 2007. That includes 90% of Republicans, 85% of unaffiliated adults and 72% of Democrats. [11] Most U.S. voters believe if you move to America, you should adopt American culture. 80% of U.S. voters believe those who move to America should adopt American culture. This level of support has been roughly consistent for many years. [11] Support for official English is across partisan lines. Official English is supported by 96% of Republicans, 74% of Democrats and 85% of adults not affiliated with either major party. [11] Most Americans support English-Only on the job. 81% of American voters day a U.S. company should be allowed to require employees to speak English on the job. [11] [1] Survey conducted by the Winston Group in August 2007. 1,000 voters were randomly chosen for the poll. [2] 1,007 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, March 14-16, 2006. The margin of error was +/- 3.2% [3] 1,000 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, January 15-18, 2004. The margin of error was +/- 3.2% [4] 1,019 likely voters were polled by Zogby International, December 12-14, 2006. The margin of error was +/- 3.2% [5] 1,000 likely voters were polled Rasmussen Reports, June 17-18. 2005. The margin of error was +/- 3%. [6] Poll of adults by Rasmussen Reports, June 30, 2006. [7] 3,000 Hispanic adults were polled by the Pew Hispanic Center in December, 2002. The margin of error was +/- 2.41%. [8] 1,002 foreign-born adults were polled in the fall of 2002 by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The margin of error was +/- 3%. [9] Survey from Zogby International. [10] Survey conducted by Harvard University. [11]Rasmussen Reports, May 2009 [12] Gallop poll, 2001. [13] The Latino Coalition survery of 1,000 Hispanic adults, 2002. [14] Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, June 2008.