Politically speaking, California is a lot like Vermont: a dominantly blue state characterized by its socially liberal agenda, and overwhelmingly “pro-choice.” But when asked specifically about whether or not the state should make abortion on demand an unrestricted right throughout all nine months of pregnancy, even a solid majority of Californians don’t support this, according to a statement released by Vermonters for Good Government.
According to a new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and Real Impact, “…only 13% of California Likely Voters believe abortion should be legal at any time during pregnancy up to the moment of birth. Fourteen percent (14%) think abortion should be legal up to six months of pregnancy, while 32% say abortion should be legal up to three months of pregnancy. Nineteen percent (19%) believe abortion should only be legal during the first month of pregnancy, while 14% think all abortions should be illegal.” (Rasmussen, 8/24/22)
This finding reinforces an earlier national poll by Harvard/Harris that showed only 10% of voters supported policies allowing unrestricted abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy, up to the moment of birth.
Matthew Strong, executive director for Vermonters for Good Government, said, “It is clear that Vermont’s Proposal 5/Article 22 is substantially out of line with a majority of people’s beliefs about abortion policy and basic morality. Unfortunately, there are a lot of voters who still don’t actually know what the true intent and impact of Article 22 will be for Vermont law.”
Spokesperson for Vermonters for Good Government, Rep. Anne Donahue, said, “Article 22 is being sold to Vermonters as protecting Roe v. Wade by enshrining it into the Vermont constitution. This is false and misleading. Article 22’s permanent enshrining of abortion on demand at any time for any reason is far more radical than Roe v. Wade, which struck a balance between the rights of the mother and the state’s interest in protecting a developing life in later stages of pregnancy.”