Despite stereotypes, no party “owns” the small-business vote, and most small-business owners do not vote a straight party ticket. That’s according to a new survey by the National Small Business Association (NSBA). The 2016 Politics of Small Business Survey provides detailed insight on the political opinions and activity of America’s small-business owners.
“In addition to being pragmatic voters, small-business owners are extremely engaged,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “Our data shows that two-thirds of small-business owners have contacted their lawmakers, and 65 percent have contributed money to a candidate’s campaign.”
Small-business owners expressed a growing level of frustration with politicians. When asked which party best represents them as an individual, more small-business owners responded with “neither party,” than with Republican or Democratic. Additionally, when asked to rate which party was more supportive on a particular issue, “Neither party” was the highest rated response on more issues than not.
“Small-business owners overwhelmingly rank economic and fiscal issues as the top factor in determining how they vote,”stated NSBA Chair Cookie Driscoll, owner of C. Cookie Driscoll Inc. of Fairfield, Pennsylvania. “Unfortunately, small-business owners broadly agree that Members of Congress and their staff don’t really understand small business.”
Discontent among small-business owners with the U.S. political machine remains high: 82 percent believe that politics have become more partisan in the last 10 years, and 65 percent believe that the current political system does not serve their business well.
NSBA released the Politics Survey in conjunction with its 70 Million Strong campaign focused on get-out-the vote initiatives, featuring resources for employers including how to talk about elections with their employees.
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