The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 ruling to overturn Roe v Wade has shifted the legal battle over abortion to the states, with some prohibiting the procedure and others moving to safeguard it.
Here are key facts about Americans’ views on abortion, based on two Pew Research Center polls: one conducted from June 25-July 4, just after this year’s high court ruling, and one conducted in March, before an earlier leaked draft of the opinion became public.
A majority of the U.S. public disapproves of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. About six-in-ten adults disapprove of the court’s decision that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and that abortion laws can be set by states, including 43% who strongly disapprove, according to the summer survey. About four-in-ten approve, including 25% who strongly approve.
About eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents disapprove of the court’s decision, including nearly two-thirds who strongly disapprove. Most Republicans and GOP leaners approve, including 48% who strongly approve.
