An April 2004 poll of North Carolinians revealed that 63% of respondents support a halt to executions while the state’s death penalty is studied, and many respondents have doubts about the accuracy of the death penalty. “Support for the two-year suspension of executions is widespread and cuts across all demographic groups, regions of the state and political party affiliation. This is clearly an issue that resonates with the people of North Carolina,” stated John Doble, founder of Doble Research Associations, the national non-partisan firm that conducted the poll. In addition to support for a moratorium, the poll found that 71% of respondents believed that North Carolina definitely or probably freed someone from death row in the last 20 years because he was innocent, and 56% of respondents believed that the state has probably executed an innocent person during the past two decades. While the majority (59%) of those polled favored the death penalty, this number dropped to 33% when respondents were given the sentencing option of life without parole; and it fell even further – to 26% - when they were given the option of life without parole plus restitution to the victims’ family. Regarding elections, 59% said that it would make no difference in their vote if a candidate for the legislature supported a moratorium bill. In fact, 24% said that they would be more likely to support a candidate who supported the temporary halt to executions, and only 12% said that they would be less likely to support that same candidate. The North Carolina Senate passed a bill to impose a moratorium on executions while a study is conducted, and the measure is currently under consideration in the House. The measure would be the nation’s first moratorium passed into law by a state legislature. (North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium Press Release, May 17, 2004). See Public Opinion and read the Press Release.