South Dakota Abortion Ban Tied Among State Voters Two New Polls Show

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 27, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

South Dakota Abortion Ban Tied Among State Voters Two New Polls Show

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 27
, 2008

Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — A new newspaper poll shows the second attempt at getting South Dakota voters to approve a ban on most abortions is tied. The Argus Leader newspaper poll found voters split 44-44 on Measure 11, which bans abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape and incest.

The ban is the second attempt after a previous one with only a life of the mother exception failed in 2006.

This year’s measure responds to polling data at that time showing about 55-60 percent of voters say they would have supported the abortion ban had the exceptions for cases of sexual abuse been present.

The new poll finds 12 percent of South Dakota voters undecided.

The survey was conducted Oct. 13-15 for Argus Leader Media and KELO-TV by the respected Mason-Dixon Polling and Research firm.

The survey found men supporting the ban by a 45-42 percent margin and women opposing it 46-43 percent. About 25 percent of Democrats support the ban while 62 percent of Republicans do and 38 percent of independents.

The poll found 56 percent of voters said the inclusion of the additional exceptions was not a factor in their view on the abortion ban while 37 percent said they play a role.

Another poll, conducted by the Maryland-based Research 2000 firm found a 44-42 split against the ban with 14 percent undecided.

That poll had men supporting it 46-41 percent and women opposing it 38-47. Democrats in this poll supported the ban at a 22 percent clip, Republicans at 61 percent and other voters at 38 percent.

Related web sites:
Vote Yes for Life – https://www.voteyesforlife.com

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