Nearly 75% of voters say small businesses should qualify as 'essential' during pandemic closures

A solid majority of voters – nearly three-quarters –think small businesses should be considered "essential" under COVID-related lockdown orders, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.

When asked, 70% of the voters survey responded that "small businesses that a family relies upon for financial support" should be deemed essential and thus spared from coronavirus closures and shutdowns.

"Essential" businesses are those that state governors and municipal leaders have deemed sufficiently necessary to be permitted to remain open during pandemic closures. 

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Just the News Daily Poll

With Scott Rasmussen

Rasmussen called that statistic "eye-popping," though he noted that overall the responses were predictable partisan.

"Other than grocery stores, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to rate every organization on the list as essential," he said. "The gap is widest on churches and religious organizations."

Notably, voters felt less strongly that restaurants should be considered "essential," with only 41% of respondents viewing them as such, though restaurants make up a significant percentage of small businesses nationwide. 

To see the poll's cross-demographic tabulations, click here.

To see the poll's methodology and sample demographics, click here.