Voters Reject the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
By Devi Ruia, Lew Blank, Grace Adcox, and Abby Springs
In one of the most monumental Supreme Court decisions of the last half-century, the Court decided in a 6-3 decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating protections for abortion rights across the country. While this decision was not a surprise, the choice to overturn nearly 50 years of precedent has shocked Americans from coast to coast. Within the month, abortion will be completely banned in 15 states, with five more likely to follow. This decision will have a wide-ranging impact on millions of pregnant people, who may now have to make costly trips out of state for essential, life-saving healthcare. Many will be unable to access abortion and reproductive care entirely.
New Data for Progress polling conducted shortly after the Supreme Court decision was released last week finds that voters strongly oppose the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Voters oppose the decision to overturn the constitutionally protected right to an abortion by a -20-point margin. This includes Democrats by a -67-point margin and Independents by a -23-point margin.
We then asked voters about the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify the right to an abortion into federal law. Voters support Congress passing this bill by a +33-point margin, including Democrats by a +73-point margin and Independents by a +35-point margin.
Voters were also asked if they believe that the current Supreme Court decides cases based on constitutional precedent or the justices’ personal political beliefs. By a +16-point margin, voters believe that the court decides cases based on the justices’ personal beliefs rather than constitutional precedent. This includes 71 percent of Democrats and 53 percent of Independents.
We then asked voters if they would be more or less likely to vote in the 2022 midterm elections after hearing about the Supreme Court’s decision. Voters state they are more likely to vote in November by a +48-point margin, including Democrats by a +64-point margin and Independents by a +39-point margin.
In a concurring opinion released with the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should reconsider other precedents decided in cases like Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodges. These cases protect the right to contraceptives, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage, respectively. Voters oppose the court overturning these decisions by a +45-point margin, including Democrats by a +67-point margin, Independents by a +56-point margin, and Republicans by a +14-point margin.
The implications of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision are profound. More than half of voters (54 percent) believe future generations will have fewer rights than the current generation. Strikingly, we find that 67 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of Independents believe future generations will have fewer rights, a scathing indictment of the Supreme Court’s attacks on personal freedoms and the direction our country is taking.
Data for Progress also asked voters to state their reactions to the ruling and the elimination of the constitutionally protected right to an abortion. Many express feelings of anger, disappointment, and fear about the loss of reproductive health rights and the impact of this decision on women across the country:
“It's disappointing, outraging, and heartbreaking, but not surprising” — a 32-year-old Independent from Vermont
“It is the most backwards step in history I've ever witnessed. It is going to do nothing but make unsafe abortions and more lives are in danger than they were before.” — a 25-year-old Democrat from California
“It's absolutely ridiculous, I am pro life without a doubt but this type of thing should be a woman's choice. No other person should be able to tell a woman what to do with her body.” — a 34-year-old Independent from Ohio
“For the life of me how is it a judge or politicians have any say over a woman's body.” — a 36-year-old Republican from Vermont
“This court does what it wants regardless of precedent, the law, or much of anything else. This decision proves it. It is an ideological decision.” — a 58-year-old Democrat from Nevada
“Made me cry to hear it. If I didn't think the world was fixing to end before I definitely do now.” — a 35-year-old Democrat from Missouri
“I am very disappointed and feel this was due to politics.” — a 63-year-old Republican from Florida
“I feel very concerned since I am gay and think it only a matter of months when they overturn gay marriage.” — a 76-year-old Democrat from Florida
“I am personally opposed to abortion, but…I would never judge another woman's decision or feel that anyone should tell them what to do with their bodies. It's shameful and awful that the Supreme Court did this.” — a 48-year-old Democrat from Iowa
“It’s not right. The obsession with women and what we can and can’t do with our own bodies in any given circumstance is insane. This country claims to be founded on Christian values and a lot of people who are in agreement with this court decision are followers of Christ and I would challenge any believer and ask them where in the Bible was this type of control on a woman’s body?” — a 26-year-old Independent from Tennessee
“Banning abortions at a time when there is formula shortage is ridiculous.” — a 31-year-old Democrat from Florida
"Every male justice should be castrated" — a 74-year-old Democrat from Pennsylvania
It is clear that voters strongly oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court justices have violated both public trust and legal precedent in a decision that will have dire consequences for millions across the country. No one should be able to impose a forced pregnancy on anyone — yet this decision will allow state governments to do just that. Congress must act to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act as soon as possible to restore abortion rights across the country.
Devi Ruia (@DeviRuia) is the Press Secretary at Data for Progress.
Lew Blank (@LewBlank) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.
Grace Adcox (@graceadcox) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.
Abby Springs (@abby_springs) is the Press Assistant at Data for Progress.