The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions at Vanderbilt University has conducted its sixth Vanderbilt Poll of Tennesseans to find out what they think about our political leaders and pressing issues facing the state and federal government.

"It is imperative to gauge the public's thinking as elected leaders grapple with tough problems that face both the state and the nation, " said VU Poll Co-Director Josh Clinton.

"We obtained telephone interviews with a representative sample of 813 registered voters. Telephone interviews were conducted by landlines and cell phones. The survey was conducted in English by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) from May 6 to May 13, 2013. The margin of error for the weighted sample is ± 4.0 percentage points," Clinton said.

A Closer Look:  Tennesseans' Views on Politics

There are more than 41 different questions asked in this poll. Among registered voters, the key highlights are:

• Tennesseans continue to see the economy as the top priority of the state, with education and health care vying for second place. Social issues such as guns, immigration, and gay rights are a distant fourth, but Tennesseans thought the legislature placed the second most emphasis on gun issues.

• Only about a quarter of Tennesseans realize that our state taxes are among the lowest in the 50 states.

• Tennesseans continue to give high marks to their U.S. senators and governor.

• Tennesseans strongly favor allowing grocery stores to sell wine.

• Tennesseans want the state to run the Health Care Exchange that emerges from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the support for a state-run exchange is stronger among Republicans than Democrats.

• The state supports the expansion of Medicaid that is tied to the ACA, but a bare majority of Republicans the members of the Tea Party oppose the expansion.

• Tennesseans strongly support charter schools.

• Tennesseans overwhelmingly support background checks for gun purchases. Support for other issues varies depending on whether the individual is a gun-owner.

• Tennesseans support the recent law that allows individuals to carry guns in their vehicles while on their employer's private property.

• Tennesseans are divided on whether online retailers should collect a sales tax.

• A narrow majority of Tennesseans think that the automatic spending cuts in the federal budget—the so-called sequestration--is bad for the county.

• Tennesseans favor letting citizens, rather than the governor, choose judges.

• Tennesseans overwhelmingly support the current primary system and oppose having the state legislature nominate candidates for US Senate.

• Tennesseans, by the slight margin, favor legal recognition of gay couples either through marriage or civil unions. A strong majority of Tennesseans believe gay couples should have access to partner benefits at their place of work.