Majority of Americans oppose Texas abortion law, new poll finds

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll that was released on Tuesday, many Americans are reportedly against Texas’ abortion ban.

The poll found that the majority of Americans say the Supreme Court should reject the state’s law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

The numbers showed that 65 percent of Americans said the court should reject the Texas law, while 29 percent said the law should be upheld. Sixty percent also said that the Supreme Court should hold onto Roe v. Wade, and 27 percent said the landmark case should be overturned.

Americans also generally opposed actions by states to increase restrictions on abortions. The poll indicated that 36 percent of those surveyed supported state laws that restrict abortion clinics’ capacity to operate, as 58 percent opposed those measures. 

The poll was released shortly after the Supreme Court heard two cases on the Texas law earlier in November. Senate Bill 8, the name under which the Texas Heartbeat Act was introduced, bans abortion after six weeks with no exception for cases of rape or incest. The measure was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in May and took effect on the first of September.

A few other Republican-led states have started the process to consider and pass similar bills as Texas laid the groundwork for that to take place. 

The survey also found that views an abortion generally fall along party lines, “though Democrats and Republicans are not mirror opposites,” according to the Post. ABC News states, “Preference for Roe to be overturned peaks at 70% among people identifying themselves as strong conservatives, but drops to 28% among those who are somewhat conservative.”

Roe is also supported by the vast majority of those who identify as strong liberals, dropping slightly to 79 percent of those who say they are somewhat liberal. The Supreme Court is set to hear a case on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, on December 1.