Protesters hold signs as they march against the anti-abortion law SB 8 outside the Texas state capital on May 29, 2021 in Austin.
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Protesters hold signs as they march against the anti-abortion law SB 8 outside the Texas state capital on May 29, 2021 in Austin.
Sergio Flores / Getty Images
A year after Texas implemented the most restrictive abortion law in the country, a majority of Texas voters are expressing strong support for abortion rights.
In a new survey6 out of 10 voters said they were in favor of abortion “available in all or most cases”, and many said abortion would be a motivating issue at the polling station. in November. Meanwhile, 11% said they supported a complete ban on abortion.
“We know that politicians in Texas and around the country have enacted bans on harmful abortions,” said Carisa. Lopez, senior political director of the Texas Freedom Network, one of several advocacy groups. Reproductive rights defenders commissioned the survey.
Texas Freedom Network, a progressive nonprofit founded by the former President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richardsdescribes its mission to monitor and combat religious rights in Texas.
Polling firm PerryUndem surveyed 2,000 Texas voters at the end of June, just before Dobbs decision has been issued. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The release of the data comes a year after the implementation of SB 8, based on civil lawsuits to enforce the moratorium on most abortions after about six weeks.
Poll Tresa Undem said she believes the issue is likely to boost voter turnout among abortion rights advocates in states including Texas in November.
“I think that’s probably why in Texas we’re seeing a shift in Texas voters becoming more selective – because there’s been those SB 8s and people are going through that, ” Undem said.
Due to SB 8, Texas provided an early example of the impact of a law restricting abortion, months before the US Supreme Court announced the decision of the Dobbs Women’s Health Organization against Jackson overturned. Roe v. Wade and other abortion rights precedents.
In response to that ruling at the end of June, the state’s activation ban – also passed in 2021 in anticipation of Supreme Court action – which also went into effect, making abortion completely illegal in Texas except to save a patient’s life during a medical emergency. Doctors say the exception is narrow and can be explained, and some say they fear abortion for patients facing a medical crisis.
Anti-abortion protesters take part in the Journey for Life in Texas on January 15, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.
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Image Brandon Bell / Getty
Anti-abortion protesters take part in the Journey for Life in Texas on January 15, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.
Image Brandon Bell / Getty
Undem says she sees growing support for abortion rights among several key voting blocs including women, Latinos and young voters.
Among the key races this November is the gubernatorial matchup between the Democrats Beto O’Rourke, an abortion rights advocate, and Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who has spoken out against abortion and signed into law SB 8 last year. Abbott has maintained a consistent lead in several polls.
The survey found that O’Rourke supporters listed access to abortion among the top issues driving their vote, while Abbott supporters listed other issues as high priority. including border security, inflation and the economy.
