National Poll: Most “Pro-Choice” Americans Oppose Infanticide and Abortion Up to Birth

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 12, 2019   |   12:56PM   |   Washington, DC

Democrats across the country are under fire for supporting infanticide and pushing to legalize abortions up to birth. But a new poll shows that even Americans who consider themselves pro-choice on abortion oppose infanticide and abortions up to birth.

Today, non-partisan polling firm YouGov, in partnership with Americans United for Life (AUL), released findings from a national survey of 1,145 American adults involving attitudes toward abortion. The survey took place on February 6 and 7, two weeks after New York passed and enacted the Reproductive Health Act, which allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to perform abortions up to the point of birth, and one week after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam made controversial comments about procedures after birth.

Among the survey’s key findings:

  • Vast majorities of Americans reject abortion the day before a child is born (80%), abortion in the third trimester (79%), and removing medical care for a viable child after birth (82%);

  • 68% of pro-choice Americans oppose abortion the day before a child is born;

  • 66% of pro-choice Americans oppose abortion in the third trimester;

  • 77% of pro-choice Americans oppose removing medical care for a viable child; and

  • 53% of Americans identify as “pro-choice” and 47% of Americans identify as “pro-life.”

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“This survey vividly reveals both the American people’s common-sense appreciation for the sanctity of life and the widespread horror, even among self-identified pro-choice Americans, of new laws like New York’s that effectively allow abortion up until the moment of delivery,” stated AUL President and CEO Catherine Glenn Foster in response to YouGov’s findings. “Planned Parenthood and elected officials like Governor Cuomo who support abortions up to the point of birth are out of step with not only their supposed core constituents, but also our country’s essential tenets of life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. It is our hope that the critical information brought to light here will advance the democratic process by inspiring more Americans to hold their representatives and public institutions to account.”

The poll follows one from Rasmussen that found just 21 percent of likely U.S. voters support the law, which allows abortions for basically any reason up to birth. A full 66 percent oppose the law, including 44 percent who identify as “pro-choice” on abortion.