A plurality of Americans would strike down Mississippi abortion ban

Reuters

Published Jun 24, 2021 02:53PM ET

Updated Jun 24, 2021 03:26PM ET

By Chris Kahn

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A plurality of Americans believe that abortion should be legal up until the fetus is capable of living on its own, and they remain largely supportive of abortion rights that will be under U.S. Supreme Court review later this year, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.

The national opinion poll, conducted June 11-17, found that 47% of adults agreed that women should have the right to pre-viability abortions, which is generally before 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Another 39% disagreed and the remaining 14% did not express an opinion.

The Supreme Court is expected to take up the issue in its next term when it considers a challenge to a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will give the court's conservative majority an opportunity to scale back abortion rights that were guaranteed nearly a half century ago with the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision.

The court could issue a decision next spring or summer, just ahead of the 2022 congressional races that will determine which party controls Congress.

For years, polls by Reuters and other news organizations have consistently found that a majority of Americans support at least some forms of abortion. The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 52% of adults said abortion should be legal in "most" or "all" cases, while 36% said it should be illegal.

The responses were divided along party lines, however, with about 70% of Democrats expressing support for abortion rights, compared with 35% of Republicans and 47% of independents.