Where do Americans Stand on Abortion?
Public Opinion Polling on Americans’ Positions on Abortion
Quick facts:
More than 7 in 10 Americans Oppose Abortion after 15 Weeks (at most)
A Harvard-Harris national poll found 72% of voters would limit abortions by no later than 15 weeks, including 75% of women, 70% of Independents and 60% of rank-and-file Democrats.
Support Democrat Position of Abortion on Demand up to Birth
Just 10% of voters support the position of leading Democrats that there should be no limits on abortion.
Majority of Americans Oppose Mail-Order Abortion
63% of Americans, including 42% of Democrats, oppose new federal rules that allow abortion pills to be sent through the mail without an in-person visit to a medical professional.
Oppose Abortion after 3 Months at Most
69% of Americans support limiting abortion to, at most, the first three months of pregnancy – this includes 72% of women, 71% of Independents and nearly half of rank-and-file Democrats.
Abortion should be illegal or left to the states
61% of Americans say abortion should either be illegal (17%) or policy decisions should be up to the states (44%).
Support Significant Restrictions on Abortion
Three quarters of Americans, including a majority (55%) of those who identify as pro–choice, want significant restrictions on abortion.
Few Support Abortion in the 3rd Trimester
Only 8% of Americans said abortions should be permitted up until the third trimester, and only 6% said abortion should be allowed up until birth.
Generally Oppose Abortion in 3rd Trimester
80% of Americans say abortion should usually be illegal in the third trimester.
Generally Oppose Abortion in 2nd Trimester
65% said abortion should usually be illegal in the second trimester.
Would limit abortions to no later than 15 weeks
72% of voters would limit abortions by no later than 15 weeks.
- Includes 75% of women, compared to 69% of men.
- Includes 70% of Independents and 60% of Democrats
Want a 15-week limit or for the states to decide
56% of Americans support banning abortion after 15 weeks (24%) or leaving abortion laws up to the states (32%).
More likely to support limit when science shows child can feel pain
55% of likely voters say they are more likely to support a 15-week limit on abortion when they learn that an unborn child has the capacity to feel pain.
More Americans support protecting babies at 15 weeks than oppose
More American voters favor the idea of a 15-week abortion limit than oppose it, according to the latest Wall Street Journal poll.
More likely to vote for a candidate who supports a 15-week limit
53% of likely voters are more likely to vote for a Republican candidate who supports a 15-week limit on abortion versus just 28% of voters who prefer a Democratic candidate who supports unlimited abortion up until the moment of birth. Independent voters break strongly to the GOP side by a 54% to 18% margin.
Would limit abortions to no later than 6 weeks
49% of voters support a limit after six weeks at most. Only 10% support the Democrats’ position of abortion on demand until birth.
Americans want abortion policy to be set by elected leaders, and not unelected judges
43% of Americans want elected officials to set abortion policy in America – compared to just 24% who want the issue decided by unelected judges.
Think States Should Make Abortion Laws
65% of Americans want Roe v. Wade to be reinterpreted to either send the issue back to the states or stop legalized abortion. This includes 67% of Independents, 45% of self-identified “pro-choice” voters, and 45% of Democrats.
Believe Babies Born Alive Should Be Protected
77% of voters support legislation to ensure that a baby who survives a failed abortion be given the same medical treatment as any other baby born prematurely at the same age (55% strongly support).
Believe Babies Born Alive Should Be Protected
76% of all respondents support pro-life protections for children born alive during abortions.
Hold Abortionists to Same Medical Standards
Three out of four Americans agree that abortion doctors should be held to the same medical standards as ordinary physicians.
Hold Abortion Facilities to Same Standard of Care as Hospitals
70% agree that abortion facilities should be held to the same medical standards as any ordinary hospital. 73.8% support states being able to pass safeguards that ensure abortion facilities comply with basic medical practices and sanitation.
Oppose ``Pills by Post``
63% of Americans, including 42% of Democrats, oppose new federal rules that allow abortion pills to be sent through the mail without an in-person visit to a medical professional.
Hospital Admittance for Women who Suffer Abortion Complications
78% of Americans believe that physicians performing abortions should be able to transfer women who experience complications directly to the emergency room.
Oppose Use of Taxpayer Funding to Promote Abortion Overseas
78% of those polled, including 67% of self-described “pro-choice” voters, 61% of Democrats, and 81% of Independents, oppose the use of tax dollars to support international abortion.
Oppose Taxpayer-Funded Abortions
60% of voters – including 34% of Democrats, 38% of self-described pro-choice voters, and 59% of Independents – oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
Oppose Funding Abortions under Medicaid
55% of voters – including 35% of Democrats and 57% of Independents – oppose using federal tax dollars to pay for abortions under Medicaid (40% strongly oppose).
No Taxpayer Funding for Experiments on Body Parts of Aborted Babies
57% of voters – including 61% of women – oppose taxpayer funding of experiments that use organs and other body parts from aborted babies (41% strongly oppose).
Pro-Choice Voters Oppose Using Tax Money to Support Abortion Abroad
64% of self-described “pro-choice” voters oppose using American taxpayer dollars to promote abortion overseas.
More Likely to Support Republican Candidate Who Would Limit Abortion at 15 Weeks
53% of likely voters are more likely to vote for a Republican candidate who supports a 15-week limit on abortion versus just 28% of voters who prefer a Democratic candidate who supports unlimited abortion up until the moment of birth. Independent voters break strongly to the GOP side by a 54% to 18% margin.
More Likely to Vote for Candidates Who Limit Abortion
About two-thirds of Americans (65%) and the same percentage of registered voters say they “are more likely to vote for” candidates who would limit abortion to at most the first three months of pregnancy. This includes about nine in 10 Republicans (88%), more than six in 10 independents (62% percent), and more than four in ten Democrats (44%).
Millennial Support for Democratic Platform on Abortion
Only 7% of Millennials share the position of the Democratic Party platform: abortion-on-demand, through all nine months, paid for by taxpayers. Seven of 10 Millennials support limits on abortion through specific policies like parental notification, limiting late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy, and opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion.
Only 10% of Voters Support Democrats position on abortion
The overwhelming majority of voters reject the Democrats’ position of abortion on demand until birth; only 10% support it.
Healthcare Professionals Should not be Forced to Perform Abortions
58% of Americans say that healthcare professionals should not be required to perform abortions if they have moral objections.
Oppose Discrimination Abortion
70% of Americans, including 70% of Independents and 59% of Democrats, oppose abortion based on the expectation that an unborn child may have Down syndrome.
Majority of Those Who Identify as Pro-Choice Oppose Discrimination Abortion
56% of Americans who identify as pro-choice oppose abortion based on the expectation that an unborn child may have Down syndrome.
Overwhelming Majority Support Pregnancy Centers
91% of Americans support pregnancy centers, which offer vital material, medical and educational support to mothers both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born.
State-Level Polling
2019 Polling in States Where Abortion Laws are Being Debated
Support Heartbeat Protections
62% of Floridians support legislation to protect unborn babies when a heartbeat is detected, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.
- 61% of Independents and 58% of women surveyed support such legislation.
- Hispanic voters were even more likely than others to support the legislation, at 76%
Support Parental Consent Law
73% of Florida voters – including 60% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 58% of self-described pro-choice voters – support legislation that would require parental consent before a minor can receive an abortion (only 27% oppose parental consent).
Oppose Late-Term Abortions
76% of Florida voters – including 64% of Democrats, 75% of Independents, 77% of women, and 53% of self-described pro-choice voters – support a law prohibiting late-term abortions (only 24% support allowing late-term abortions).
Oppose Taxpayer-Funded Abortion
62% of Maine voters – including 44% of Democrats – oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. When told the legislature is considering a bill that would require taxpayer funding of abortion for Medicaid enrollees for any reason, 62% of voters remain opposed to expanding taxpayer funding of abortion in Maine.
Women Oppose Tax-Funded Abortion
64% of women voters in Maine oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
Independents Oppose Tax-Funded Abortion
60% of independent voters in Maine oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.
Oppose Late-Term Abortions
Support Law Requiring Late-Term Abortions to be Performed in Hospitals
Support Requiring Parental Consent
Oppose Late-Term Abortions
Women Oppose Late-Term Abortions
``Pro-Choice`` Voters Oppose Late-Term Abortions
Support Heartbeat Protections
More likely to support heartbeat legislation after they hear science
Oppose Abortion-on-Demand up to Birth
Oppose Late-Term Abortion
Democrats Oppose Late-Term Abortion
Support Limits on Abortion
Oppose Late-Term Abortion
Oppose Allowing Abortion up to Birth
``Pro-Choice`` Voters Oppose Allowing Abortion up to Birth
Support a bill protecting an unborn child after 15 weeks
61% of likely voters support a bill protecting an unborn child after 15 weeks – a point when science shows they can feel pain – with exceptions for rape, incest or if the mother’s life is at risk. This includes
- 64% of Independents
- 55% of Democrats
- 56% of women
Oppose Allowing Abortion up to Birth
Majority of Pro-Choice Voters Oppose Abortion after 15 Weeks
Oppose expanding the Supreme Court to add more justices
71% of West Virginia voters – including 44% of Democrats and 80% of Independents – oppose expanding the Supreme Court to add more justices. 64% strongly oppose.
Say It's Important for Their U.S. Senator to be Pro-Life
69% of West Virginia voters say it’s important for their U.S. senator to be pro-life — this includes 64% of Independents and 48% of Democrats. 48% say it’s very important for their senator to be pro-life.
Oppose Taxpayer Funding for Abortions
73% of West Virginians — including 72% of Independents and 51% of Democrats — oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion in the U.S.
Oppose Taxpayer Funding of to Promote Abortion Overseas
73% of West Virginia voters oppose using American taxpayer dollars to promote abortion overseas – including 50% of Democrats and 78% of Independents.
Important that Senator does What's Right for West Virginia
75% of West Virginia voters say it is very important that their U.S. senator does what is right for West Virginia even if it means voting against their party.
Post last modified: April 14, 2023
