Elon Poll: N.C. residents say religion is losing influence on American life

Two-thirds of North Carolinians believe that religion is losing influence on American life, compared with about 24 percent who believe religion is gaining influence, according to the latest Elon University Poll. Nearly 65 percent say there should be no requirement for elected officials to believe in God.

The poll, conducted Feb. 22­-25, surveyed 508 North Carolina residents and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. The sample is of the population in general, with numbers that include both landlines and cellular phones.

The poll asked people whether they agreed or disagreed with a statement in the North Carolina constitutional, which says elected officials can be removed from office if they “shall deny the being of Almighty God”:

Strongly disagree: 27 percent
Disagree: 34 percent
Agree: 18 percent
Strongly agree: 13 percent

The issue arose in December when Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell, an atheist, was sworn into office. Some of his critics have threatened a legal challenge, based on the state’s constitutional requirement, which is at odds with the U.S. Constitution. Nearly half (49 percent) of respondents to the Elon Poll believe the requirement does not belong in the state constitution, while 44 percent believe the requirement should remain in the state constitution.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM.