Abortion

Gallup's Pulse of Democracy

Abortion

Guidance for Lawmakers
  1. Most Americans oppose the idea of passing laws to outlaw abortion and they soundly reject the idea of overturning Roe. v. Wade.
  2. Despite this, most Americans support the kind of chipping-around-the-edges limits on abortion that many states have enacted in recent years, and that continue to be promoted in others: parental consent for minors, informed consent for women, spousal consent, and laws that would prohibit the specific procedure known as "partial-birth abortion."
  3. More broadly, a majority of Americans favor keeping abortion legal in the first trimester but would make it illegal in the second and third trimesters.
  4. Americans generally reject extreme positions on abortion (always legal or always illegal) in favor of middle-of-the- road positions (legal, but in only certain circumstances).

Fine Print

There is an important distinction between how Americans answer broad questions about outlawing abortion and how they answer more specific questions about limiting abortion. When asked in the most general terms whether abortion laws should be stricter, many do not want the laws to be stricter. Yet, when they are asked whether abortion should be legal in all cases, most cases, only a few cases, or no cases, more than half choose one of the latter two categories.

Furthermore, polling finds a wide range of expressed support for laws limiting abortion. This complexity reveals the ambivalence most Americans feel about the issue.

The highest levels of support for legal abortions are seen for the severe hardship cases -- those performed for health problems related to the woman or fetus, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. There is some variation in these attitudes according to which trimester the abortion would occur in. Most Americans support abortion to protect the life or health of the mother right into the third trimester, but support for terminating a pregnancy in which the baby would be born mentally or physically impaired drops below half in the third trimester.

The lowest levels of support for legal abortion are for those sought for lifestyle or financial reasons, or for when the mother does not want to have the child. Only about 4 in 10 Americans think abortion "when the woman does not want the child for any reason" should be legal in the first trimester, and support drops well below that in the third trimester.

Context

There is a fundamental tension within U.S. abortion attitudes between Americans' respect for individual rights, and their respect for the life of the unborn, particularly in later stages of pregnancy. For instance, most Americans will agree that the abortion decision "should be left up to the woman and her doctor." At the same time, a slight majority (51%) believes abortion is morally wrong; only 40% say it is morally acceptable.

With attitudes being so complex, it may be best to respect Americans' own characterizations of their abortion views as the best way to summarize those views. These numbers fluctuate, but as of Gallup's most recent survey, the slight majority of Americans (53%) consider themselves "pro-choice" on abortion, whereas 42% call themselves "pro-life."

The most controversial aspect of the abortion issue for Americans is abortion in the first trimester. "Pro-life" Americans widely denounce this, while "pro-choice" Americans widely support it. Both sides agree abortion should generally be illegal in the later stages of pregnancy.

Urgency: Overall Importance as Political Issue

Abortion is not an important issue for most Americans. While a majority of Americans say they feel strongly about their abortion views, few indicate they only support political candidates who share their views on the subject. Abortion typically ranks at the bottom of any list of issues Americans are asked to rate in terms of their importance for political candidates to discuss or as a government priority.

Among the minority of Americans who are highly motivated on the abortion issue, the pro-life side has the edge over the pro-choice side. Those opposed to abortion tend to feel more strongly about their position and are more likely to base their vote choices on the issue than are those in favor of abortion rights.

Key Subgroup Differences

Abortion is often thought of as a women's issue, but polling data suggest, to the contrary, that the depth of one's religious beliefs, not gender, is what drives attitudes on abortion.

By a 2-to-1 margin (59% to 30%), those who say religion is very important in their lives call themselves pro-life rather than pro-choice. Most of those who say religion is not very important in their lives (79%), call themselves pro-choice.

Another important discriminator is party affiliation. Democrats tend to be pro-choice in their views (64%); Republicans tend to be pro-life (57%).

Gallup also finds some differences in abortion attitudes according to respondents' age (seniors are the most pro-life), level of schooling (the college educated are the most pro-choice), and geographic location (the East is the most pro-choice; the South is the most pro-life). These patterns largely overlap with the religiosity and/or political affiliation of these groups, and it is difficult to know which variable is at the root of all others when it comes to formulating abortion attitudes.

The Bottom Line

Americans support restrictions on abortion that, if enacted, would make abortion less accessible than it is today. But there is scant evidence the public is anxious to see these changes made. Few call the issue a priority, and when asked in general terms about changing abortion laws, most Americans seem opposed.

Would you like to see abortion laws in this country made more strict, less strict, or remain as they are?

More
strict

Less
strict

Remain
same

Other
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 Jan 4-6

31

21

42

1

5

2007 Jan 15-18

37

23

36

1

3

2006 Jan 9-12

38

20

39

1

3

2005 Jan 3-5

38

19

41

*

2

2004 Jan 12-15

37

20

40

1

2

2003 Jan 13-16

36

21

39

1

3

2002 Apr 5-7

39

17

41

1

2

2002 Jan 7-9

39

19

39

*

3

2001 Jan 10-14

34

17

46

1

2

With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?

NOTE: Trends taken only from polls where pro-life/pro-choice was asked as a stand-alone question. Separate trend exists for polls when asked following questions on abortion.


Pro-
choice

Pro-
life

Mixed/
Neither
(vol.)

Don't know what terms mean (vol.)

No opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2007 Jun 11-14

51

43

2

2

2

2007 Jun 1-3

52

39

4

2

2

2006 Jan 6-8

53

42

1

2

2

2005 Aug 28-30

54

38

3

2

3

2005 Jul 22-24

51

42

3

3

1

2004 Oct 14-16

52

41

2

3

2

2001 Aug 3-5

52

39

4

3

2

2001 Jul 10-11

50

40

4

3

3

2001 Feb 9-11

55

38

5

1

1

2000 Oct 6-9

47

45

3

2

3

2000 Jul 14-16

50

40

4

2

4

1996 Jul 18-21

48

40

5

4

3

1996 Mar 15-17

56

37

3

2

2

NOTE: Trends taken only from polls where pro-life/pro-choice was asked following other questions on abortion (for example, what circumstances should abortion be legal trend)





Pro-
choice





Pro-
life



Mixed/
Neither
(vol.)

Don't know what terms mean
(vol.)





No opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2007 May 10-13

49

45

3

2

2

2006 May 8-11

51

41

4

2

3

2005 May 2-5

48

44

3

3

2

2004 May 2-4

49

44

2

3

2

2003 Oct 24-26

48

45

3

3

1

2003 May 5-7

48

45

2

4

1

2002 May 6-9

47

46

3

3

1

2001 Aug 10-12

46

46

3

3

2

2001 May 10-14

48

42

4

4

2

2001 Mar 26-28

47

41

4

6

2

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2

48

43

2

4

3

1999 Apr 30-May 2

48

42

3

4

3

1998 Jan 16-18

48

45

3

2

2

1997 Nov 6-9

51

40

3

3

3

1997 Aug 12-13

47

44

3

3

3

1996 Jul 25-28

53

36

5

3

3

1995 Sep 22-24

56

33

5

3

3


Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?

Legal
under any
circum-
stances

Legal only
under
certain
circum-
stances


Illegal in
all circum-
stances


No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2007 May 10-13

26

55

18

1

2006 May 8-11

30

53

15

2

2005 Nov 11-13

26

56

16

2

2005 Jun 24-26

24

55

20

1

2005 May 2-5

23

53

22

2

2005 Mar 21-23

23

55

20

2

2004 May 2-4

24

56

19

1

2003 Oct 24-26

26

55

17

2

2003 May 5-7

23

57

19

1

2003 Jan 10-12

24

57

18

1

2002 May 6-9

25

51

22

2

2002 Mar 22-24

27

53

19

1

2002 Feb 8-10

26

54

18

2

2001 Aug 10-12

26

56

17

1

2001 May 10-14

26

58

15

1

2001 Mar 26-28

26

51

18

5

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2

28

51

19

2

2000 Jan 13-16

26

56

15

3

1999 Apr 30-May 2

27

55

16

2

1998 Jan 16-18

23

59

17

1

1997 Nov 6-9

26

55

17

2

1997 Aug 12-13

22

61

15

2

1996 Sep 20-22

24

52

17

7

1996 Jul 25-28

25

58

15

2

1995 Sep 22-24

31

54

12

3

1995 Feb 24-26

33

50

15

2

1994 Sep 6-7

33

52

13

2

1994 Mar 28-30

31

51

15

3

1993 Mar 12-14

32

51

13

4

1992 Jul 23-24 ^

34

48

15

3

1992 Jun 29

34

48

13

5

1992 Jan 16-19

31

53

14

2

1991 Sep 5-8

33

49

14

4

1991 May 30-Jun 2

32

50

17

1

1990 Apr 5-20

31

53

12

4

1989 Jul 6-9

29

51

17

3

1989 Jul 6-7 ^

29

51

17

3

1989 Apr 12-13 ^

27

50

18

5

1988 Sep 25-Oct 1

24

57

17

2

1985 Jan 3-4 ^

21

55

21

3

1983 Jun 24-27

23

58

16

3

1981 May 8-11

23

52

21

4

1980 Jul 11-14

25

53

18

4

1979 Feb 23-26

22

54

19

5

1977 Dec 9-12

22

55

19

4

1975 Apr 4-7

21

54

22

3

^ Gallup/Newsweek


(If certain circumstances) Do you think abortion should be legal in most circumstances or only in a few circumstances?

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Legal
under any circum-
stances

Legal
under most circum-
stances

Legal only
in a few circum-
stances

Illegal
in all circum-
stances


No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2007 May 10-13

26

15

40

18

1

2006 May 8-11

30

13

39

15

3

2005 Nov 11-13

26

16

39

16

3

2005 Jun 24-26

24

15

40

20

1

2005 May 2-5

23

12

40

22

3

2005 Mar 21-23

23

14

39

20

4

2004 May 2-4

24

13

42

19

2

2003 Oct 24-26

26

14

40

17

3

2003 May 5-7

23

15

42

19

1

2003 Jan 10-12

24

14

42

18

2

2002 May 6-9

25

12

39

22

2

2002 Mar 22-24

27

12

40

19

2

2001 Aug 10-12

26

12

43

17

2

2001 May 10-14

26

15

41

15

3

2001 Mar 26-28

26

13

38

18

5

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2

28

11

38

19

4

2000 Jan 13-16

26

17

39

15

3

1999 Apr 30-May 2

27

12

42

16

3

1998 Jan 16-18

23

16

42

17

2

1997 Nov 6-9

26

15

40

17

2

1997 Aug 12-13

22

12

48

15

3

1996 Jul 25-28

25

13

43

15

4

1995 Sep 22-24

31

14

39

12

4

1995 Feb 24-26

32

9

41

15

3

1994 Sep 6-7

33

13

38

13

3


Would you like to see the Supreme Court overturn its 1973 Roe versus Wade decision concerning abortion, or not?

Yes, overturn

No, not overturn

No opinion

2007 May 10-13

35%

53

12

2006 May 8-11

32%

55

13

2006 Jan 20-22

25%

66

9

2005 Jul 7-10 ^

28%

63

9

^

Asked of a half sample.

Now I would like to ask your opinion about a specific abortion procedure known as "late term" abortion or "partial birth" abortion, which is sometimes performed on women during the last few months of pregnancy. Do you think that this procedure should be legal or illegal?

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2007 May 10-13

22%

72

5

2003 Oct 24-26 ^

25%

68

7

^

WORDING: Now I would like to ask your opinion about a specific abortion procedure known as "late term" abortion or "partial birth" abortion, which is sometimes performed on women during the last few months of pregnancy. Do you think that - [ROTATED: the government should make this procedure illegal, (or do you think that) this procedure should be legal]?


Thinking about how the abortion issue might affect your vote for major offices, would you -- [ROTATED: only vote for a candidate who shares your views on abortion (or) consider a candidate's position on abortion as just one of many important factors (or) not see abortion as a major issue]?


Candidate must share views

One of many important factors



Not a major issue



No
opinion

%

%

%

%

National Adults

2007 May 10-13

16

59

23

3

2004 Oct 14-16

17

46

35

2

2004 May 2-4

14

45

39

2

2001 May 10-14

20

51

27

2

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2

15

49

33

3

1999 Apr 30-May 2

19

51

27

3

1996 Jul 25-28

16

51

30

3

1996 Jul 18-21

18

48

30

4

Registered Voters

2007 May 10-13

16

60

23

2

2004 Oct 14-16

17

46

35

2

2004 May 2-4

14

46

39

1

2001 May 10-14

21

52

25

2

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2

14

52

32

2

1999 Apr 30-May 2

19

52

26

3

1996 Jul 25-28

15

53

30

2

1996 Jul 18-21

17

50

30

4

1992 Jun 29

13

46

36

5

Would you favor or oppose a law in your state that would ban all abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother?

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

2006 Mar 10-12

36%

60

3


Next, do you favor or oppose each of the following proposals. How about -- [ITEMS A-B ROTATED, ITEM C READ LAST]

A. A law requiring women under 18 to get parental consent for any abortion

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Nov 11-13

69

28

3

2003 Jan 10-12

73

24

3

1996 Jul 25-28

74

23

3

1992 Jan 16-19

70

23

7


B. A law requiring that the husband of a married woman be notified if she decides to have an abortion

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Nov 11-13

64

34

2

2003 Jan 10-12

72

26

2

1996 Jul 25-28

70

26

4

1992 Jan 16-19

73

25

2


C. A constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all circumstances, except when necessary to save the life of the mother

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Nov 11-13

37

61

2

2003 Jan 10-12

38

59

3

1996 Jul 25-28

38

59

3

1992 Jan 16-19

42

56

2

1984

50

46

4


What is your impression of how most Americans feel about abortion -- do you think most Americans feel -- [ROTATED: abortions should be legal under any circumstances, abortions should be legal only under certain circumstances, or abortions should be illegal in all circumstances]?

Legal
under any circumstances

Legal only
under certain circumstances


Illegal in all circumstances


No
opinion

2005 May 2-5

13%

67

16

4

2001 May 10-14

16%

66

11

7


Now thinking about future nominees to the United States Supreme Court, how important is it to you, personally, that they share your views on the abortion issue -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?


Very
important


Somewhat
important


Not too
important

Not important
at all


No
opinion

2005 May 2-5

45%

31

15

8

1


Just your best guess, do you think George W. Bush wants to ban all abortions in the United States, or not?

Yes, does

No, does not

No opinion

2003 Oct 24-26

50%

37

13


Does that make you -[ROTATED: more likely (or) less likely] - to vote for Bush, or wouldn't that affect your vote?

More
likely

Less
likely

No
effect

No
opinion

2003 Oct 24-26

17%

23

58

2


[COMBINED RESPONSES]

2003 Oct 24-26

%

Yes, think Bush wants to ban all abortions

50

(More likely to vote)

(11)

(Less likely to vote)

(17)

(No effect/No opinion)

(22)

No, do not think Bush wants to ban all abortions

37

(More likely to vote)

(5)

(Less likely to vote)

(4)

(No effect/No opinion)

(28)

No opinion

13


Now I am going to read some specific situations under which an abortion might be considered in the FIRST THREE MONTHS of pregnancy. Thinking specifically about the FIRST trimester, please say whether you think abortion should be legal in that situation, or illegal. How about ... [RANDOM ORDER]?

[BASED ON -505-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]

When the woman's life is endangered

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

82%

15

3


When the child would be born mentally disabled

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

50%

46

4


When the child would be born with a life-threatening illness

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

60%

35

5


When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

72%

24

4


When the woman does not want the child for any reason

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

41%

56

3


Now I am going to read some specific situations under which an abortion might be considered in the LAST THREE MONTHS of pregnancy. Thinking specifically about the THIRD trimester, please say whether you think abortion should be legal in that situation, or illegal. How about ... [RANDOM ORDER]?

[BASED ON -509-NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]

When the woman's life is endangered

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

75%

22

3


When the child would be born mentally disabled

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

38%

56

6


When the child would be born with a life-threatening illness

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

48%

47

5


When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

59%

39

2


When the woman does not want the child for any reason

Legal

Illegal

No opinion

2003 May 19-21

24%

74

2


Now I am going to read some specific situations under which an abortion might be considered. For each one, please say whether you think abortion should be legal in that situation, or illegal. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]

When the woman's life is endangered

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

85%

11

2

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

84%

12

2

2

1996 Jul 25-26

88%

7

3

2


When the woman's physical health is endangered

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

77%

17

4

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

81%

15

2

2

1996 Jul 25-26

82%

11

5

2


When the woman's mental health is endangered

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

63%

32

3

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

64%

29

3

4

1996 Jul 25-26

66%

27

5

2


When there is evidence that the baby may be physically impaired

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

56%

37

4

3

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

53%

39

5

3

1996 Jul 25-26

53%

37

7

3


When there is evidence that the baby may be mentally impaired

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

55%

39

3

3

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

53%

40

4

3

1996 Jul 25-26

54%

36

7

3


When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

76%

19

2

3

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

78%

19

1

2

1996 Jul 25-26

77%

18

3

2


When the woman or family cannot afford to raise the child

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

35%

61

2

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

34%

62

2

2

1996 Jul 25-26

32%

62

3

3


Thinking more generally, do you think abortion should generally be legal or generally illegal during each of the following stages of pregnancy. How about --[RANDOM ORDER]?

In the first three months of pregnancy

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

66%

29

3

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

65%

31

2

2

1996 Jul 25-26

64%

30

4

2


In the second three months of pregnancy

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

25%

68

4

3

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

24%

69

4

3

1996 Jul 25-26

26%

65

7

2


In the last three months of pregnancy

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No
opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

10%

84

4

2

2000 Mar30-Apr 2

8%

86

3

3

1996 Jul 25-26

13%

82

3

2


Next, do you favor or oppose each of the following proposals. How about -- [READ AND ROTATE A-D FIRST, THEN ROTATE E AND F]

A law requiring women seeking abortions to wait 24 hours before having the procedure done

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

78%

19

3

1996 Jul 25-28

74%

22

4

1992 Jan 16-19

73%

23

4


A law requiring doctors to inform patients about alternatives to abortion before performing the procedure

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

2003 Jan 10-12

88%

11

1

1996 Jul 25-28

86%

11

3

1992 Jan 16-19

86%

12

2


A law which would make it illegal to perform a specific abortion procedure conducted in the last six months of pregnancy known as a "partial birth abortion," except in cases necessary to save the life of the mother

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%