Hoosier Survey results: How Indiana views Biden, Holcomb, masks and vaccine mandates

Ball State released its annual Hoosier Survey last week, providing a glimpse into how Hoosiers are dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how they view their elected leaders.

Ball State surveyed 576 adults between Nov. 15-25, using an online quota system to ensure the survey respondents' demographics aligned with the state's. The margin of error was +/- 5.2%.

Here were some of the key takeaways:

Holcomb and Biden's approval ratings

Gov. Eric Holcomb continues to enjoy high approval ratings in his second term. Nearly 63% of respondents said they approve of the job he is doing, while 37% said they do not. Likewise, nearly 51% of Hoosiers said that they think the state has done a good or excellent job at responding to COVID-19.

More: Facing better than expected revenue forecast, Indiana lawmakers mull what to do with extra money

Respondents viewed the federal government and President Joe Biden less favorably. Only 35% of respondents said they approved of the job he is doing as president, while only 38% of Hoosiers said the federal government has done a good or excellent job responding to the pandemic.

Biden's approval rating appears lower in Indiana than the country as a whole, which isn't all that surprising given the Republican party's hold on the state. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 48% of Americans approve of Biden's job performance.

Masks and vaccine mandates

A majority of Hoosiers were still wearing masks in public at least part of the time in November, according to the survey. Of those who responded, nearly 37% said they wore a mask all or most of the time in stores or other businesses in the prior month while 28% said they did some of the time. Meanwhile 20% said they hardly ever wore masks during the month prior and 13% said they never did.

Likewise, more Hoosiers said they favor requiring both students and teachers to wear masks in schools than opposed the measure.

On the vaccine front, just over 50% of Hoosiers said they would favor requiring proof of vaccination to travel on an airplane, while only 39% of those surveyed said they oppose it. Opposition was stronger to requiring that people be vaccinated to eat inside a restaurant or attend a university.

Only 30% of Hoosiers said employers should require vaccines, 41% said they should encourage employees to get vaccinated but not require it and 28% said they should do neither. Those statistics matter as lawmakers mull whether to reign in private companies' abilities to mandate vaccines in the upcoming legislative session.

In the weeks since the survey was administered, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased in Indiana. As of Dec. 15, the seven-day average of new daily cases was 4,409.

The economy

The survey also asked Hoosiers to rate how satisfied they are with Indiana's record of attracting good paying jobs. Of the respondents, roughly 18% said they were satisfied, 58% said they were somewhat satisfied, 21% said they were not too satisfied and 4% said they were not at all satisfied.

Hoosiers listed improving public safety and reducing crime as a topic that should be a top priority for the state more than any other issue, followed by improving local schools, improving roads and bringing more jobs to the state.

Call IndyStar reporter Kaitlin Lange at 317-432-9270. Follow her on Twitter: @kaitlin_lange.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Indiana views Biden, Holcomb and vaccine mandates