by Evan Stambaugh
A new poll shows that Minnesotans are practically split down the middle on the question of keeping Roe v. Wade.
According to results of a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll, 51% of Minnesotans said the Supreme Court should not overturn Roe. 29% expressed support for its overturn, while the remaining 20% said they weren’t sure.
The survey, conducted May 5 through 10, also explores Minnesotans’ views on abortion and its legality in the state should Roe be overturned.
61% of those surveyed believe abortion should remain legal in Minnesota — 10% more than those who believe Roe should be upheld. One in four (26%) believe abortion should be made illegal, while the remaining 13% said they weren’t sure.
725 Minnesota adults participated in the survey, with the group of participants weighted to accurately reflect census data on race, gender, age, education, and home ownership.
Further data shows that exactly three in 10 Minnesotans believe abortion should be legally permitted with no restrictions, while one in four (25%) said it should be legal with some restrictions and another one in four (26%) said it should be illegal with an exception for rape and incest.
Just 12% of respondents said abortion should be illegal with no exceptions.
Although abortion will remain legal in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned at the federal level — the Minnesota Supreme Court deemed abortion a “right” under the state constitution in 1995 — some activist groups believe certain restrictions on it are impeding women from exercising their “constitutional right.”
Gender Justice, an advocacy group based in St. Paul, is leading the charge against Minnesota’s 24-hour waiting period and requirements that 1) a physician must perform an abortion and 2) minors must notify both parents of their decision to get one.
But The Associated Press reports that the group’s lawsuit will now be delayed “indefinitely,” just a month-and-a-half before it was set to go to trial in Ramsey County District Court.
“The [Minnesota Court of Appeals] said late Tuesday that the lawsuit … can’t proceed while the state’s appeal over which parties have legal standing to participate is pending. It’s not clear how long that appeal will take,” according to the report.
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Evan Stambaugh is a freelance writer who had previously been a sports blogger. He has a BA in theology and an MA in philosophy.
Photo “Pro-Life Poster” by Students for Life of America.
