National Survey: “Pro-Choice” Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Late-Term Abortion, Now Permitted in New York
Two in three self-identified “pro-choice” Americans oppose abortion in the third trimester, abortion the day before a child is born, and removing medical care for a viable child
Today, YouGov, in partnership with Americans United for Life (AUL), released findings from a national survey of 1,145 American adults involving attitudes toward abortion. The survey took place on February 6 and 7, two weeks after New York passed and enacted the Reproductive Health Act, which allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to perform abortions up to the point of birth, and one week after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam made controversial comments about procedures after birth.
Among the survey’s key findings:
- Vast majorities of Americans reject abortion the day before a child is born (80%), abortion in the third trimester (79%), and removing medical care for a viable child after birth (82%);
- 68% of pro-choice Americans oppose abortion the day before a child is born;
- 66% of pro-choice Americans oppose abortion in the third trimester;
- 77% of pro-choice Americans oppose removing medical care for a viable child; and
- 53% of Americans identify as “pro-choice” and 47% of Americans identify as “pro-life.”
“This survey vividly reveals both the American people’s common-sense appreciation for the sanctity of life and the widespread horror, even among self-identified pro-choice Americans, of new laws like New York’s that effectively allow abortion up until the moment of delivery,” stated AUL President & CEO Catherine Glenn Foster in response to YouGov’s findings.
“Planned Parenthood and elected officials like Governor Cuomo who support abortions up to the point of birth are out of step with not only their supposed core constituents,” stated Catherine Glenn Foster, “but also our country’s essential tenets of life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. It is our hope that the critical information brought to light here will advance the democratic process by inspiring more Americans to hold their representatives and public institutions to account.”
