States criminalizing abortion clash with the majority as recent polls show 60% of Americans support legal access. Reproductive rights measures gain bipartisan traction, challenging the prevailing restrictive trend.
In a recent column published by Becca Damante, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress, the spotlight was cast on the growing divide between state legislatures that are criminalizing abortion and the prevailing sentiment of the majority of Americans who support reproductive rights. Damante's commentary comes amidst the backdrop of Ohio's special election and a pivotal ballot measure that has sparked discussions about constitutional amendments and the broader issue of abortion access.
The ballot measure, known as Issue 1, aims to increase the threshold required for voter approval of amendments to Ohio's constitution. Currently, a simple majority is needed for passage, but Issue 1 seeks to raise this requirement to 60% approval. The measure has garnered significant attention, with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose championing its cause, asserting that it's a crucial step to safeguarding the state's constitution.
The proposition posed by Issue 1 has prompted widespread debate, as its success could result in greater difficulty in amending Ohio's constitution in the future. While this issue is of significant importance, Damante argues that the focus on the special election underscores a broader, more pervasive issue – the growing discord between state-level policy decisions and the sentiments of the American public regarding reproductive rights.
“States criminalizing abortion are out of step with the majority of Americans. This has been demonstrated in the success of reproductive rights measures that have been voted into law in states across the country with broad, bipartisan support,” said Damante.
Recent polling data from Ohio Northern University in collaboration with the polling firm Lucid paints a compelling picture. A staggering 60% of respondents expressed the belief that abortion should be legal. In contrast, only 35% advocated for its criminalization, with an additional 5% unsure of their stance. This solid majority in favor of legal abortion demonstrates a widespread sentiment that diverges from the increasingly restrictive abortion laws being enacted in several states.
While the poll underscores the general sentiment on abortion legality, it also highlights the intricacies of public engagement on the topic. Only 37% of respondents claimed to closely follow the issue of abortion. This suggests that although a substantial portion of the population supports reproductive rights, the issue might not always be at the forefront of their concerns.
Another point of interest from the poll is the response to the question of whether the Supreme Court should have overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalized abortion in the United States. The results revealed a nuanced perspective, with 52.3% of respondents asserting that the Court should not have overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, 30.6% supported the Court's decision, and 17.1% remained unsure.
In her column, Damante ultimately underscores the importance of recognizing the broader context surrounding reproductive rights, where recent state-level ballot initiatives demonstrate strong bipartisan support for measures that ensure access to abortion. While states may be adopting more stringent abortion laws, the polls highlight that such policies do not necessarily reflect the majority stance among Americans.
