U.S. Public Opinion Survey on Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Ratification

What is it about?

In late 2016, we conducted the first nationally representative survey in several years on U.S. public attitudes toward the CTBT and nuclear testing. We then asked survey respondents about the motivations underlying their expressed positions. Overall, the data revealed widespread support for the test ban across all demographic subgroups in the United States. A total of 65 percent of all respondents supported the Senate giving its advice and consent to CTBT ratification, while 15.3 percent opposed this measure. A further 19.7 percent remained undecided. Among political subgroups: 69.8 percent of Democrats, 56.2 percent of Republicans, and 66.3 percent of Independent supported ratification.

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Why is it important?

It is essential for policymakers to have up-to-date information about the distribution of preferences among the U.S. public on critical national security issues. The test ban is back in the limelight as the world stares down a nuclear-armed North Korea, which has conducted six nuclear explosive tests. Many voices in the international community have also ramped up pressure on the United States to ratify the CTBT in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2310, calling for the treaty's entry into force. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's Nuclear Posture Review supports the test ban in principle, while ruling out U.S. ratification for the time being.