Where do Americans Stand on Abortion?

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.

Nearly 80% of Americans reject abortion on demand throughout pregnancy. 67% would limit to the first three months at most; only 22% say abortion “should be available any time during a pregnancy.

54% of voters support a limit after six weeks at most. Only 15% support the Democrats’ position of abortion on demand until birth.

The American Family Survey 2023 found that 54% of Americans believe abortion should be limited after the first trimester – at 12 weeks. Another 29% would limit abortion after the second semester. Just 7% support no-limits abortion up to birth.

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

More American voters favor the idea of a 15-week abortion limit than oppose it, according to the latest Wall Street Journal poll.

Nearly six in 10 voters would support Congress passing national legislation to protect babies in the womb after 15 weeks (with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest), while allowing states to pass more protective laws.

• Includes majorities of Democrats, Independents, women and self-described pro-choice voters.

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).

76% of all respondents support pro-life protections for children born alive during abortions.

Three out of four Americans agree that abortion doctors should be held to the same medical standards as ordinary physicians.

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.

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.

60% of voters – including 34% of Democrats, 38% of self-described pro-choice voters, and 59% of Independents – oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

64% of likely U.S. voters believe that abortionists should be required to notify parents before performing abortions on girls under age 18 (only 25% oppose).

By a margin of more than 2:1, voters believe parental permission should be required before an abortion is performed on girls under 18, with 60% of voters in favor of requiring parental permission and just 29% opposed.

• Includes 42% of Democrats and 58% of unaffiliated voters.
• Includes 57% of women.

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.

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%).

The overwhelming majority of voters reject the Democrats’ position of abortion on demand until birth; only 10% support it.

86% of Americans, including 86% of Independents and 78% of Democrats, oppose abortion based on the unborn child’s sex.

58% of Americans, including 58% of Independents and 42% of Democrats, oppose abortion based on the expectation that an unborn child may have Down syndrome.

83% 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.

61% disagree that it is safe to distribute abortion drugs through the mail with little to no supervision (41% strongly disagree), in light of the increased risk to women of coercion and abuse.

63% of Americans, including 62% of women, agree an in-person visit to a medical professional should be required before abortion drugs can be given out.

7 in 10 likely voters – including 57% of liberal voters – approve of requiring a doctor visit to receive a prescription for abortion drugs, a safeguard Biden’s FDA removed.