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Most Voters Back Parental Notification for Minors’ Abortions

Sponsored by Real Impact

Even many voters who call themselves “pro-choice” on the issue of abortion have concerns when underage girls are involved.

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and Real Impact finds that 64% of Likely U.S. voters believe that abortion providers should be required to notify parents before performing abortions on girls under age 18. Only 25% oppose parental notification requirements, while another 11% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The issue of abortion and minors made headlines this month in the case of a 10-year-girl in Ohio who had an abortion after authorities say she was raped by an undocumented immigrant. Voters are divided on whether abortion providers should be required to notify law enforcement before performing abortions on pregnant minors who are younger than the age of consent.  Forty-three percent (43%) favor such a notification requirement, while 40% would not require notification of law enforcement in cases involving underage pregnant girls. Another 17% are not sure.

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The survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on July 10-11, 2022 by Rasmussen Reports and Real Impact. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Likely Voters consider themselves generally pro-choice on the issue of abortion, while 43% are pro-life. Another 10% are undecided. These findings are slightly different than last month, when a majority (52%) said they were pro-choice.

By a margin of more than 2-to-1, voters believe parental permission should be required before an abortion is performed on girls under 18, with 60% in favor of requiring parental permission and just 29% against it. Another 10% are not sure.

Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans, 42% of Democrats and 58% of voters not affiliated with either party say parental permission should be required before a minor gets an abortion. Eighty-five percent (85%) of pro-life voters favor requiring parental permission, but so do 37% of pro-choice voters.

Support for parental notification is even higher, with 82% of Republicans, 48% of Democrats and 62% of unaffiliated voters believing that abortion providers should be required to notify parents before performing abortions on girls under age 18. Eight-five percent (85%) of pro-life voters and 43% of pro-choice voters favor parental notification.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Republicans, 36% of Democrats and 37% of unaffiliated voters think abortion providers should be required to notify law enforcement before performing abortions on pregnant minors who are younger than the age of consent. A majority (51%) of Democrats oppose requiring notification of law enforcement in such cases, as do 26% of Republicans and 42% of unaffiliated voters.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Democrats consider themselves pro-choice, while 64% of Republicans consider themselves pro-life. More unaffiliated voters consider themselves pro-choice (47%) than pro-life (39%).

Majorities of every racial group – 64% of whites, 57% Black Voters and 67% of other minorities – favor parental notification when minors seek abortion. Nearly half (49%) of minorities voters and 46% of whites consider themselves generally pro-choice on the issue of abortion. Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 38% of Black voters and 37% of other minorities consider themselves pro-choice.

A majority (55%) of women voters consider themselves generally pro-choice on the issue of abortion, as do 38% of men. Forty-eight percent (48%) of men consider themselves pro-life, as do 38% of women voters. However, majorities of both men (63%) and women voters (57%) believe parental permission should be required before a minor gets an abortion.

President Joe Biden’s strongest supporters are most opposed to requiring law enforcement notification when an underage minor gets an abortion. Among voters who Strongly Approve of Biden’s job performance as president, 52% are against requiring abortion providers to notify law enforcement before performing an abortion on pregnant minors who are younger than the legal age of consent in a state. By contrast, among voters who Strongly Disapprove of Biden’s performance, 54% are in favor of law enforcement notification in such cases.

The U.S. Constitution is overwhelmingly admired by American voters, but most Democrats believe our national charter is tainted by racism and sexism.

With the 2022 midterm elections now less than four months away, Republicans have an eight-point lead in their bid to recapture control of Congress.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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The survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on July 10-11, 2022 by Rasmussen Reports and Real Impact. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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