A major shift in public opinion has emerged in the two years since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, with a growing majority of Americans now supporting abortion rights.
According to new polling from the Pew Research Center, over 60% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a four percentage-point increase from 2021.
This growing support transcends demographic divides, with majorities of men, women, white people, Black people, Hispanic people, and Asian people all backing abortion rights.
Also, people living under abortion bans have become increasingly supportive of abortion access, with 42% now saying it should be easier to access abortion, up from 30% in 2019.
Abortion Rights Gain Popularity in US, with 60% Now in Favor, a Four-Point Jump
The broad support for abortion rights may prove pivotal in the upcoming US elections, with Joe Biden’s re-election campaign highlighting abortion as a key issue.
Democrats hope that ballot measures to protect abortion rights in battleground states like Arizona and Nevada will boost voter turnout and their chances.
While Democrats overwhelmingly support abortion rights (85%), Republicans are more divided, with 41% backing abortion rights and conservative Republicans driving opposition.
Interestingly, Pew found that many people’s views on abortion become more nuanced when probed deeper. While most groups supporting abortion rights believe it should be legal in “most” circumstances, support tends to dwindle when asked about second or third-trimester abortions.
Additionally, a major portion of Americans (35%) agree that human life begins at conception, while over half believe the decision to have an abortion should belong solely to the pregnant woman. Also, a third of Americans identify with both statements, highlighting the complexity of public opinion on this issue.
