A new poll shows 67% of Mainers support allowing abortions after 24 weeks with a doctor’s approval.
The poll, conducted in February by the University of New Hampshire, shows 52% strongly support the policy, with 15% saying they “somewhat support” it.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England touted the poll results Thursday, saying it reflects how most Mainers view abortion rights.
“Abortion is a medical procedure, one part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare,” said Nicole Clegg, acting CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, in a press release. “Every pregnancy is different, and it is impossible to legislate the nuances and situations that can arise for every patient.”
States across the country are considering abortion-related legislation this year following the Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that guaranteed the right to an abortion.
With the new decision, states have more power to regulate abortion, with most abortions banned in 13 states.
In Maine, Gov. Janet Mills announced new legislation in January to allow a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks if it is deemed medically necessary.
Mills said she decided to advance the idea after hearing the story of a Falmouth woman who had to travel to Colorado for an abortion after discovering her child was suffering from a deadly genetic mutation.
The bill, which will be considered by lawmakers in the coming weeks, faces strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and Christian Civic League of Maine.
“It’s not a subtle change,” Michael McClellan, policy director for the civic league, told Spectrum News in January. ”It’s making us the head of the class for abortion.”
Yet Democrats control the House and Senate, with many of them already expressing support for the expansion.
The Pine Tree State Poll asked 792 Mainers about the abortion issue and other topics in an online survey conducted Feb. 16-20. The margin of error is 3.5%.
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center has recruited 2,500 Maine adults to participate in online surveys sponsored by the survey center.