Americans Want A National Policy On Abortion And Gay Marriage

YouGov
April 05, 2012, 11:00 AM GMT+0

(Week of 3/31/2012) The issues of same-sex marriage and abortion often divide the American public. The latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds nearly half the public favoring allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. There is support in all regions but the South, among younger adults and those with annual incomes above $100,000 a year, among college graduates, and among Democrats.

A majority in recent Economist/YouGov polls has supported some legal recognition of same-sex unions; however, many in that majority have preferred civil unions to the actual legalization of same-sex marriage. Faced with a yes-no vote on same-sex marriage, 46% of the public approves, 40% do not. The issue remains controversial for Republican voters — 63% of them oppose legalizing same-sex marriage.

Americans, by a nearly two to one margin, want this issue settled nationally — and not on a state by state basis. Just 37% would find a state by state solution an acceptable compromise. It doesn’t seem to matter what one’s position on same-sex marriage is: Republicans as well as Democrats want a national policy.

The public also favors a national policy on abortion. While the parties disagree on what an abortion policy should be, majorities in both parties agree that there should be only one for the country.

Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here

Photo source: Press Association