June Associated Press/NORC poll shows only 19% of Americans support third-trimester abortion.
QUICK FACTS:
- On Wednesday the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could roll back abortion rights nationwide and overturn Roe v. Wade, Forbes reports.
- National polls show a majority of Americans support keeping abortion legal when the woman’s life is in danger, with support dropping as the pregnancy enters later terms.
- “An Associated Press/NORC poll in June found 87% support abortion when the woman’s life is in danger, 84% support exceptions in the case of rape or incest, and 74% support abortion if the child would be born with a life-threatening illness,” according to Forbes.
- However, support for abortion drops further into the pregnancy, with AP/NORC finding 61% believe abortion should be legal during the first trimester (0-13 weeks), but only 34% in the second trimester (14-27 weeks) and 19% in the third (28-42 weeks).
BACKGROUND:
- The Supreme Court’s current makeup—a 6-3 majority of Republican-appointed justices—has led to speculation the Court might overturn Roe v. Wade, which recognized a right to get an abortion before a fetus is viable, generally about 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy, FOX News reports.
