The Public Policy Institute of California poll suggests attitudes are shifting toward more abortion restrictions in certain circumstances, although a majority of Californians still favor abortion rights reports the Associated Press.
The telephone survey of 2,502 Californians found 68 percent favor a state law requiring that parents or guardians be notified before a girl under age 18 can get an abortion. The limit was favored by majorities regardless of political party, region, race or ethnicity.
In November, California voters defeated a proposal to limit abortions among underage girls for the third time in four years. But the percentage opposed to the initiative shrank to 52 percent, down from 54 percent opposed in 2005 and 56 percent opposed in 2006.
Supporters have reason for hope when they say they will try again, said Mark Baldassare, the president and survey director at the nonpartisan institute. National polls mirror the institute’s findings of significant support for this one abortion restriction, he said.
But sentiment expressed in a poll can change when voters have to mark yes or no on a ballot.
“When it’s reached the ballot box, it’s been framed as a political issue and a partisan issue,” Baldassare said. “There tends to be a significant drop-off among Democratic voters when they get to the polls.”
The survey included 1,050 parents with children age 18 or younger, which Baldassare said is representative of the population.
Read more here: Poll: Californians favor parental notification