This week a new poll from NPR and Ipsos shows that most Americans oppose outright bans on abortion, like the kind found in Texas. The Signal spoke with Mallory Newall, the Vice President of Public Affairs for Ipsos about that and other results from the poll, which was conducted six months after the Dobbs ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Lawmakers across the county earned pretty mixed reviews for how they handled abortion in their state,” said Newall. Interestingly, 69% of Americans, no matter their party affiliation, would support a state-level ballot measure or referendum about abortion rights.
Other findings of the poll show that 62% of Americans believe that the Dobbs decision stemmed from politics, with a stark divide on party affiliation: Republicans (39%), Democrats (86%) and Independents (66%). Overall, 60% of Americans believe in the original Roe law.
For Newall, some of the most telling findings of the poll concern current laws like those in Texas. “What we see in our polling is that very few Americans are actually okay with an outright ban on abortion because for most Americans this is not a black and white issue,” she said. Just 9% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all cases.
Newall also spoke about the respondents of the poll from Texas, where abortion is banned. “It’s a small sample size, but the level of disapproval is significantly higher than what we see for all Americans,” she noted.
What the polling does make clear is that what lawmakers in Texas have done is firmly “out of step with public opinion.” Nevertheless, far-right Republicans in Texas show no signs of changing course on anti-abortion policies.
A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. She is also the host of the podcast the Tex Mix, as well as the co-host for the weekly SignalCast. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful).
