Poll shows majority in U.S. want legal abortion nationally
WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Americans say Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide, according to a new poll that finds over half say they feel at least somewhat "sad" or "angry" about the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The high court's decision asserted that abortion is not a constitutional right and handed states the authority to severely restrict or ban abortion. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows many Americans back some restrictions on abortion, especially after the first trimester, but the most extreme measures introduced in some Republicanled states are at odds with the public — and with many of the people who live in them.
Faith Murphy, a 41-year-old in Coshocton, Ohio, said she was "quite upset" that the court overruled Roe and wants to see abortion access federally protected. While she's voted across the aisle, Murphy considers herself a Republican and doesn't want to see Republican leaders in her state and others push for restrictions.
"I don't trust who we have in government here in Ohio ... to keep women's rights or the right to an abortion for any reason whatsoever intact," Murphy said.
Polling ahead of the June 24 decision suggested that overturning Roe would be unpopular with a majority of Americans who wanted to see the court uphold the 50-year precedent. The new poll, roughly three weeks after the decision, finds 53% of U.S. adults say they disapprove of the court's decision, while 30% say they approve. An additional 16% say they neither approve nor disapprove.
Sixty percent think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide. The House last Friday voted to restore abortion rights in the U.S., though the bill will likely stall in the Senate.
Overwhelming majorities also think their state should generally allow abortion in specific cases, including if the health of the pregnant person is endangered or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Few think abortion should always be illegal, and most Americans support their state generally allowing abortion six weeks into the pregnancy.
Those patterns persist even in the 23 states in which laws banning or tightening access to abortion have taken effect, will soon take effect or are being debated in court.
Blake Jones thinks six weeks "is far too early to be able to make a decision like that," and while he personally doesn't approve of abortion, the 28-year-old Democrat in Athens, Georgia, said he's pro-choice because he doesn't believe "that my views should affect other people."
Jones said he thinks the point of viability is more appropriate for restrictions on abortion, but even then, there should be exceptions if the pregnant person's health is at risk or the baby would be born with a severe health issue.
Views about abortion at the 15-week mark are muddled. The poll shows Americans in states that have deepened restrictions on abortion are closely divided over abortion at 15 weeks into a pregnancy. That compares with about 6 in 10 Americans in other states saying abortion should be allowed at that point. That gap is similar on allowing abortion for "any reason."
Support dwindles across the board at 24 weeks into the pregnancy, with only about a third saying their state should generally allow for that.
While only about a third approve of the Supreme Court's decision, the poll finds about half of Americans think states should be responsible for establishing abortion laws.
Jeffrey Bouchelle agreed with the court because "it should've been a states' rights issue in the first place."