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Poll: About 75% of Michigan voters believe abortion should be legal

By: - August 25, 2020 1:41 pm

Michigan House Democrats support the “Stop the Bans” pro-choice rally, May 21, 2019 | House Democrats photo

A new national poll shows that a majority of Michigan voters from all sides of the political spectrum support reproductive freedom. 

The poll, done by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling in Michigan, found that 77% of voters in Michigan agree that any decision about pregnancy should be made by the woman with the support of people she loves and trusts, while just 19% disagree. 

This includes 79% of independent voters and 57% of Republicans. 

“When it comes to access to abortion and reproductive freedom, Trump and the anti-choice, anti-freedom movement could not be farther out of touch with Michiganders and the American public, and critical to winning in November is spotlighting their extreme ideology for voters to see,” said Adrienne Kimmell, chief communications and research officer of Washington, D.C.-based NARAL Pro-Choice America.

https://www.michiganadvance.com/2020/07/21/abortion-ban-fails-in-michigan/

Last month, a petition drive to ban the dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion procedure run by Right to Life of Michigan ended its campaign after the Michigan Bureau of Elections (BOE) said the petition did not have enough valid signatures. 

In May 2019, the GOP-controlled Legislature passed similar legislation, but Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer threatened to veto it.

The poll also found that 74% of Michigan voters support reproductive freedom, believe abortion should be legal, and that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself. 

Just 12% of Michigan voters polled said they would only consider voting for a candidate who supports banning abortion in the November election.

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Allison R. Donahue
Allison R. Donahue

Allison R. Donahue is a former Michigan Advance reporter who covered education, women's issues and LGBTQ issues. Previously, she was a suburbs reporter at the St. Cloud Times in St. Cloud, Minn., covering local education and government. As a graduate of Grand Valley State University, she has previous experience as a freelance researcher for USA Today and an intern with WOOD TV-8.

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