Abortion rights in America has found itself being one of the most prominent debates in the world. New research, new perspectives, new cases and new politicians keep with the times as well as on how abortion laws and public open shift globally. With everything in this world, there is a spectrum on where people fall with their own belief. The Marist Poll has interviewed every spot on that spectrum with sponsorship from NPR and PBS news.

The survey, conducted about a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it is clear that Americans have not shifted their perspective about the debate. The poll finds that 59% are against the decision while 61% are in favor. With a significant number of voters saying that they support abortion rights, 2 in 3 Americans want an impressive amount of restrictions placed on abortion access. When asked questions about the specifics of abortion, circumstances such as rape, incest, or the safety of a pregnant woman, have been proven to have the most in-favor voting. 

The survey done by the Marist Poll has a myriad of questions to get the results they need. Questions ranging from “please tell me if you support or oppose a law that allows abortion at any time during pregnancy in cases of rape or incest,” and “do you have a great deal of confidence, quite a lot, not very much confidence, or no confidence at all in the U.S. Supreme Court?”

Many have direct answers to most questions, “strongly agree,” or “strongly disagree,” with only few telling the prompter “unsure,” creating a strong distinction that helped complete the survey with accuracy. An important question asked that can give reason to many answers, “ do you personally know someone, including yourself, who has ever had an abortion?” One percent answered with “no “in April 2023 and June 2022. In April 2023, 38% said no and 61% said yes. And in June 2022, 33% answered no and 66% answered yes.

The most interesting question I found myself turning back to was, “When it comes to dealing with the issue of abortion, which party do you think would do a better job: the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or both about the same? If you think that neither would do a good job, please just say so.”

This vote stopped my scrolling and made me wonder. One of the biggest divides between republican and democratic parties is the topic of abortions. To each party their own, many believe that they handle the topic best. The democratic party voted themselves with 89% and the republican party as 2%, no surprise. What shocked me the most was the republican vote, only 63% are confident in their party and 6% with the democratic. 

One of the strongest points in a republicans run for office are how he -I say “he” because it normally is- would handle the topic best. There is no doubt that most voters are open about their idea on what a woman should do if she finds herself in that predicament, and confident on how their party leader will proceed. Pridefulness in their beliefs is their party’s anthem with all things abortion.

But behind closed doors, is the pride put on a shelf? The percent shows us all we need to know, that it just might be.

The debate at the end of the day is one’s body autonomy. To see that only a little more than half actually agree with how their party deals with the topic best is surprising, and somewhat hopeful and refreshing.

One thought remains that I can’t help but wonder: when there’s a shield of anonymity, are republicans more inclined to be honest with themselves?