The current proliferation of anti-abortion laws is a typical example of discrepancy between what politically moderate American’s want’s vs what we’re getting.
According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2021, 52% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 42% believe it should be illegal in all or most cases. This represents a shift towards a more pro-choice stance in recent years, as the percentage of Americans who identify as pro-choice has reached a record high.
Similarly, a Pew Research Center poll conducted in 2021 found that 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases. This represents a slight increase in support for legal abortion since 2016.
A more recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll conducted in 2022 found that Americans are split on abortion, but most support access in some circumstances. According to the poll, 57% of Americans say abortion should be legal in certain circumstances, while 39% say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
In some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, recent laws have been passed that restrict access to abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. These laws are inconsistent with public opinion as a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest.
References:
- Gallup Poll: Abortion (2021) https://news.gallup.com/poll/369837/record-high-americans-choose-pro-choice-position.aspx
- Pew Research Center: Public Opinion on Abortion (2021) https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/24/about-six-in-ten-americans-say-abortion-should-be-legal-in-all-or-most-cases/
- NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll: Abortion Attitudes (2022) https://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/npr-pbs-newshour-marist-poll-americans-split-on-abortion-but-most-support-access-in-some-circumstances/
Written with the assistance of AI on February 5, 2025