Poll: Contraception and Abortion in the Battleground

This Navigator Research report contains polling data tracking support for protecting access to contraception and abortion at the national level, and whether battleground constituents believe abortion will be further restricted in the future.

A vast majority of battleground constituents across partisanship support protecting access to contraception nationally.

By a 50-point margin, battleground constituents support Congress passing a law that would protect access to contraception nationwide (71 percent support – 21 percent oppose), including 56 percent who “strongly” support. Over nine in ten Democrats in the battleground support Congress protecting access to contraception (92 percent), as well as two in three independents (65 percent) and a majority of Republicans (52 percent). 

• Constituents support congressional action to protect access to contraception regardless of whether they live in districts with Democratic lawmakers (71 percent support, including 57 percent who “strongly” support it) or Republican lawmakers (71 percent, including 55 percent who “strongly” support such action).

Half “strongly” support nationwide access to abortion.

Three in five battleground constituents support national protections for abortion, including majorities in states where abortion access is currently vulnerable or restricted. 59 percent of battleground constituents support Congress passing a law that would protect access to abortion nationwide and protect physicians who provide abortions. There are similar levels of support for such legislation in states where abortion access is safe (58 percent), where it is vulnerable (61 percent), and where it is restricted (61 percent), as defined by the Guttmacher Institute’s categorization of abortion policies and access. 

• Majorities of both women and men in the battleground support Congress passing a law to protect access to abortion nationwide, though women are more likely than men by 15 points margin to support such action (66 percent and 51 percent, respectively).

A majority think Republicans in Congress will impose further restrictions on abortion if they have full control of Congress.

Three in five battleground Americans believe abortion access will be further restricted nationally if Republicans win the next election. 60 percent of battleground constituents think Republicans will pass more restrictions on abortion nationwide if they win the next election, including 42 percent who think Republicans will “definitely” pass further national abortion restrictions. 

• Republicans in the battleground are divided over what to expect if they win the next election: 57 percent believe Republican lawmakers will not pass more restrictions to abortion nationwide if they win the next election, compared to 29 percent of Republican constituents who believe Republican lawmakers would pass further restrictions. 95 percent of Democrat battleground constituents believe Republicans will pass more restrictions, as do 46 percent of independents.