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.
Multiple post-Dobbs polls show that at least seven in 10 Americans support significant limits on abortion.
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%).
Vast majority reject abortion on demand throughout pregnancy
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.
GOP primary voters support protections at 15 weeks
Morning Consult finds nearly seven in 10 GOP primary voters (67%) support protections for unborn children at least when they can feel pain by 15 weeks.
National protections at 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
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.
Would limit abortions nationally to no later than 15 weeks
According to polling from this year, 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.
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.
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 Mail Order Abortion Pills
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 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.
Only 27 states require parental consent prior to abortion for girls under 18. Eight states require notification only. 15 states have functionally no requirement of either kind.
Support Parental Notification
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).
- Includes 48% of Democrats, 62% of unaffiliated voters, and 43% of pro-choice voters.
- Includes 57% Black voters and 67% of other minorities.
Support Requirement of Parental Permission
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.
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%).
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.
Say it's not safe to distribute abortion pills through the mail
61% disagree that it is safe to distribute abortion pills through the mail with little to no supervision (41% strongly disagree), in light of the increased risk to women of coercion and abuse.
Consider the FDA Untrustworthy
56% consider the FDA untrustworthy (31% very untrustworthy) when they learn that the FDA fast-tracked the abortion pill regimen using its accelerated drug approval authority by calling pregnancy a “life-threatening illness.”
Oppose Mailing of Abortion Pills Without In-Person Visit to Doctor
63% of Americans, including 42% of Democrats, oppose federal rules that allow abortion pills to be sent through the mail without an in-person visit to a medical professional.
Post last modified: August 25, 2023
