Support for legal abortion has surged following the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate federal protections, according to a new poll.
The findings indicate a growing opposition to strict abortion bans and increased backing for abortion access.
The poll, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, reveals that approximately 60% of Americans believe their state should allow legal abortion for any reason.
This marks a significant rise from June 2021, when only about half supported such access.
The shift in public opinion comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed constitutional protection for abortion.
Strict abortion bans have been enacted in 14 Republican-led states, with limited exceptions, while three other states ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.
These measures have faced substantial public opposition. The poll also shows a strong disapproval of national abortion bans, with a significant majority of Americans opposing such restrictions.
Vincent Wheeler, a 47-year-old Republican from Los Angeles, expressed that abortion should be available for any reason until viability.
He acknowledged that while some Republicans might disagree, the decision ultimately belongs to the individual.
Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, has avoided endorsing a nationwide abortion ban, advocating instead for states to decide.
However, this stance does not satisfy many Americans, who favor a federal law ensuring access to abortions. The poll shows that 70% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases, a slight increase from last year.
Robert Hood, a 69-year-old independent liberal from Texas, has supported abortion rights since he was a teenager.
He believes that women should have the autonomy to make decisions regarding their pregnancies, reflecting a sentiment shared by a significant portion of the population.
Despite the overall opposition to abortion restrictions, the survey also highlights nuanced and sometimes contradictory views.
For example, half of those supporting abortion access for any reason also believe their state should prohibit abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Nevertheless, a vast majority agree that abortion should be legal in extreme circumstances, such as when the patient’s life is at risk, or in cases of rape or incest. Around 80% oppose a federal law banning abortion, including a law that would ban abortion at six or 15 weeks.
On the campaign trail, Trump has highlighted his appointment of Supreme Court justices who contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Yet, his strategy to defer the issue to the states reflects an attempt to navigate the complex political landscape created by the 2022 Dobbs decision.
The poll, conducted from June 20-24, 2024, surveyed 1,088 adults using a sample from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, representative of the U.S. population. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.
