Overwhelming majority of US women ages 18 to 49 support legal abortion • NC Newsline
While abortion remains one of the most contentious issues between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, a new poll finds that regardless of political affiliation, nearly 15 percent of women of childbearing age have had an abortion at some point in their lives. Yet three-quarters of those women believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
These findings are part of survey results released this month by nonprofit think tank KFF. The study surveyed more than 3,900 women ages 18 to 49 from May 13 to June 18.
Key findings of the survey
- One in seven women surveyed (14%) have had an abortion at some point in their lives. A higher share of black (21%) and Hispanic (19%) women report having had an abortion, compared with 11% of white women. Similar shares of women who identify as Republicans, Democrats and independents report having had an abortion.
- Three in four women of childbearing age in the United States believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases (74%). Majorities support a nationwide right to abortion (70%), oppose a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks (64%), and oppose leaving abortion legality up to the states (74%).
- Almost one in ten (8%) women of childbearing age personally know someone who has had difficulty obtaining an abortion since Roe v. Wade was repealed, including 11% of Hispanic women and 13% of women living in states with abortion bans.
- Among women of childbearing age who report knowing someone personally who has had difficulty obtaining an abortion since Roe v. Wade was lifted, many reported having to travel to another state for treatment (68%), not knowing where to go (40%), and/or not having enough money to cover costs (35%).
- More than six in ten women of childbearing age (63%) fear that they or a loved one would not be able to have an abortion if it were necessary to protect their life or health. At the same time, 64% are concerned that a ban on abortion could affect the safety of a possible future pregnancy for themselves or a loved one.
- Less than half of women of childbearing age in the United States are clear about the current status of abortion policy in their state (45%). Nearly a quarter misdescribe the status (23%), and a third are unsure about the status of abortion in their state (32%).
- More than a quarter (26%) of women of childbearing age say that if they needed or wanted an abortion, they would not know where to turn or where to find information.
- Almost one in five women (17%) of childbearing age say they have changed their contraceptive methods because of roe including taking contraceptives, undergoing sterilization, switching to a more effective method, or buying morning-after pills to always have a supply.
- While two-thirds of women have heard of medication abortion pills, only about one-fifth (19%) of women say that people in their state can obtain medication abortion pills online.
The poll’s results are likely to benefit the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, who has highlighted not only abortion rights but also reproductive rights such as contraception and in vitro fertilization (IVF) as key issues, distinguishing herself from the campaign of Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.
While Trump is being pursued by Democrats for his ties to Project 2025, an authoritarian plan for a possible second term that seeks a nationwide ban on abortion, Harris was already campaigning for her support for abortion rights and her support as his successor long before President Biden dropped out of the race.
Harris launched a “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour in early 2024 that included a visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, making her likely the first sitting president or vice president to tour an abortion clinic.
Trump has said abortion policy should be left to individual states. But after the US Supreme Court’s decision in 2022, Roe v. Wadea decision made possible by the three appointments he made to the court, some states, such as Michigan, have enshrined abortion rights in their respective state constitutions, while many other states, such as Texas, have virtually banned the procedure for the vast majority of women.
“Two years after the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion, 14 states have banned abortion and 11 states have adopted pregnancy restrictions between 6 and 22 weeks of the last menstrual period,” the KFF survey said. “Even in states with few abortion restrictions, access to abortion services can be limited by a lack of providers, poor coverage, and other factors.”
Although Michigan voters previously approved a statewide right to abortion, several regulations, including a 24-hour waiting period, remain in effect and are being challenged in court.
Previous KFF polls have shown that voter enthusiasm has varied in states such as Arizona, where an abortion rights bill is on the ballot this November, and Michigan, where a constitutional amendment protecting abortion access was passed in 2022.
This report was first published by the Michigan Advance, which, like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network.
