As daylight saving time ends, many Americans anticipate an extra hour of sleep. However, this is often considered one of the most disliked events on the American calendar. A new AP-NORC poll reveals that only 12% of U.S. adults support the current practice of changing clocks twice a year, while 47% oppose it, and 40% remain neutral.
Nationwide, clocks will roll back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, signaling a return to standard time with more daylight in the mornings. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows many people dislike this change and prefer additional evening daylight.
Pranava Jayanti, a 31-year-old resident of Los Angeles, is among those opposing the time switch. Having grown up in India, where clocks remain unchanged, Jayanti was surprised by the American practice. Despite advance notice, he was caught off guard by the early evening darkness.
Calls to stop the biannual clock adjustments have been voiced, including a stalled legislative proposal passed by the Senate in 2022. Supporters of a single year-round time include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and former President Donald Trump, who recently expressed his view on social media.
The poll found permanent daylight saving time would not be universally popular, particularly among morning enthusiasts. The U.S. first used daylight saving during World Wars I and II. In 1966, Congress allowed states to choose their time settings, but decisions had to be uniform within states. Today, all states except Arizona and Hawaii observe time shifts, while regions like Canada and Europe adapt their clocks similarly. Some parts of Asia do not partake.
Despite many adults disliking the changes (including 27% who are strongly opposed), a considerable number remain indifferent. Adults under 30, in particular, show less concern, with 51% expressing neutrality. Conversely, those over 30 tend to dislike the changes; about half oppose the twice-annual adjustments.
If forced to choose, 56% would opt for making daylight saving time permanent, enjoying the extra evening light. In contrast, 4 in 10 would prefer standard time, valuing morning daylight. Those identifying as ‘night people’ overwhelmingly support permanent daylight saving, with 61% favoring this option. Conversely, ‘morning people’ are divided almost equally, with 49% supporting permanent daylight saving and 50% preferring standard time.
Vicky Robson, a retired nurse from Albert Lea, Minnesota, identifies as a night person. She prefers permanent daylight saving as she values evening light for her activities. Having worked evening shifts, Robson enjoys outdoor activities after dinner when it stays light.
There is limited evidence favoring either daylight or standard time as superior for society. However, there is guidance for adjusting sleep and habits to accommodate changes. Stanford University research suggests sticking to a single time benefits health more than switching. The study also found potential health advantages with standard time.
The more light you have earlier in the morning, the more robust your clock is,
said Jamie Zeitzer, co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences at Stanford. Zeitzer also remarked that many factors play a role, from economic aspects to personal preferences.
The U.S. earlier tried permanent daylight saving during the 1970s, intended as a two-year trial, but it ended prematurely due to unpopularity. Time adjustments lead to seasonal daylight changes, embedding them in cultural practices, noted Chad Orzel, a professor at Union College. People enjoy long summer evenings and avoid dark winter mornings, necessitating the clock changes.
The AP-NORC poll conducted Oct. 9-13 involved 1,289 adults, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
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