Minneapolis voters are generally split on whether or not they want to replace the city’s police force with a new Department of Public Safety, according to results from a new KARE 11/MPR News/Star Tribune/FRONTLINE Minnesota Poll.
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and heightened nationwide awareness around police brutality, a vocal coalition called for the Minneapolis Police Department to be replaced with a department overseen by the city council. On Sept. 17, early absentee voting opened to Minneapolis residents for the city’s Nov. 2 Municipal Election, where voters are being asked to weigh in on the future of the police force.
SHOULD MINNEAPOLIS REPLACE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
According to a new KARE 11/MPR News/Star Tribune/FRONTLINE Minnesota Poll conducted before early voting began, 49% of Minneapolis voters support replacing MPD with a new policing model that would police officers, but also focus on public health and give the city council more authority over public safety, while 41% of voters oppose the idea and 10% are undecided.
The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, interviewed 800 registered likely voters in the city of Minneapolis between Sept. 9-13. The citywide poll has a standard +/- 3.5% margin of error.
