When it comes to the issue of abortion, many Americans would perceive it to be a divisive issue where people chose sides: pro-life or pro-choice. But, a new poll shows more unity and compromise on abortion than previously thought — even among millennials.
The findings of Knights of Columbus/Marist’s 2016 poll is appropriately titled “Going Beyond Labels.”
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During the poll’s release, which Red Alert Politics attended, the pollsters focused on a misconception that those who identify as pro-choice support abortion throughout an entire pregnancy. The poll results show something else. For instance, 81 percent of Americans — which includes 66 percent of pro-choicers — would restrict abortion to the first three months of pregnancy.
During the poll’s release, it was also mentioned that millennials “substantially” support limiting abortion; 76 percent support limits, which is similar to the 8 in 10 figure of Americans overall.
The results from the Marist/Knights of Columbus poll are consistent with the ideal that millennials are a pro-life generation.
Marist provided Red Alert Politics with the breakdown for the millennial generation. Respondents were given the following options regarding the legality of abortion:
- Abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her pregnancy: 13 percent of millennials
- Abortion should be allowed only during the first six months of a pregnancy: 12 percent of millennials
- Abortion should be allowed only during the first three months of a pregnancy: 22 percent of millennials
- Abortion should be allowed only in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother: 31 percent of millennials
- Abortion should be allowed only to save the life of the mother: 11 percent
- Abortion should never be permitted under any circumstance: 12 percent
The pollsters also mentioned that more pro-choicers support what many would consider to be the pro-life side of the abortion issue. This is relevant in several questions including:
- The 71 percent of pro-choicers say that abortion laws can protect both mother and child, which 77 percent of Americans overall agree with
- The 51 percent of pro-choicers oppose taxpayer funding, which is a view held by 68 percent of Americans
- The 62 percent of pro-choicers support a 20-week ban on abortion, which is a view similarly held by 61 percent of Americans
Even where pro-choicers do not make up a majority, they still come out for restrictions in significant numbers, including:
- The 27 percent of pro-choicers who say abortion ultimately does a woman more harm than good, which is the view of 55 percent of Americans
- The 33 percent of pro-choicers who believe that abortion is “morally wrong,” which is a view held by 60 percent of Americans
- The 34 percent of pro-choicers who would allow health care providers and organizations with moral objections to opt-out of abortion service, which is a view held by 51 percent of Americans
A new release gives information on the methodology:
