Near-record 55 percent support abortion rights: Survey

by Lauren Sforza - 11/20/23 3:41 PM ET

FILE -Stephen Parlato of Boulder, Colo., holds a sign that reads "Hands Off Roe!!!" as abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, in Washington. One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded a five-decade-old right to abortion, prompting a seismic shift in debates about politics, values, freedom and fairness. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) — FILE -Stephen Parlato of Boulder, Colo., holds a sign that reads “Hands Off Roe!!!” as abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, in Washington. One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded a five-decade-old right to abortion, prompting a seismic shift in debates about politics, values, freedom and fairness. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Fifty-five percent of people said in a new survey said that pregnant women should be allowed to obtain a legal abortion if they want one for any reason, marking one of the highest shows of support on the issue since the 1970s.

The new Wall Street Journal-NORC at the University of Chicago poll found 77 percent of Democrats said they support access to abortion for any reason, up from 52 percent in 2016.

Only one-third of Republicans said that they backed access to abortion for any reason, according to the Journal.

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.

Best Prime Day 2024 Deals

Products still on sale after Prime Big Deal Days

Beats headphones and tablets remain marked down

Make sure you’re stocked with Apple products

However, the poll found widespread support for access to abortion in the cases of rape, incest and the health of the woman. Eighty-six percent of respondents said they supported access to abortion in instances of rape or incest, and 89 percent support it when a woman’s health is endangered by the pregnancy, the Journal reported.

Abortion rights have become a top issue for voters since the Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that protected the constitutional right to abortion. This led multiple GOP-led states to implement or enact their own abortion bans and restrictions.

However, the ruling also prompted some states to codify the right to the procedure in their constitutions. Ohio became the latest state to do so this year, with more than 56 percent of voters backing a proposed constitutional amendment that would protect access to abortion up until fetal viability, with exceptions for the life and health of the patient beyond that point.

The poll surveyed 1,163 registered voters from Oct. 19 to 24 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Tags abortion Roe v. Wade