Individual Freedom Tops List of Issues Before Supreme Court Followed By Gun Laws, Religious Liberty, Limiting the Power of Government, and Abortion

Posted on December 10, 2021 | by Staff Writer

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of voters say that individual freedom is Very Important in terms of how they vote. That’s the highest rating among seven broad issues being considered by the Supreme Court. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 63% rated gun laws as Very Important, 58% who say Religious Liberty is Very Important and 55% say the same about limiting the power of government. Abortion is seen as Very Important by 49%, Death Penalty Issues by 41%, and Transgender Rights by 31%.

For Republicans, the top three issues are Individual Freedom, Limiting the Power of Government and Religious Liberty.

For Democrats, the top three are Gun Laws, Individual Freedom, and Religious Liberty.

For Independents, the top issues are Individual Freedom, Gun Laws, and Religious Liberty.

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Note: Neither Scott Rasmussen, ScottRasmussen.com, nor RMG Research, Inc. have any affiliation with Rasmussen Reports. While Scott Rasmussen founded that firm, he left more than seven years ago and has had no involvement since that time.

Question:

In terms of how you will vote, how important are each of the following issues?

Abortion

49% Very important

26% Somewhat important

12% Not very important

6% Not at all important

7% Not sure

Gun laws

63% Very important

22% Somewhat important

6% Not very important

4% Not at all important

4% Not sure

Limiting the power of government

55% Very important

27% Somewhat important

9% Not very important

3% Not at all important

6% Not sure

Transgender rights

31% Very important

23% Somewhat important

17% Not very important

20% Not at all important

7% Not sure

Individual rights

68% Very important

19% Somewhat important

5% Not very important

2% Not at all important

6% Not sure

Religious liberty

58% Very important

24% Somewhat important

8% Not very important

5% Not at all important

5% Not sure

Death penalty

41% Very important

32% Somewhat important

13% Not very important

6% Not at all important

8% Not sure

Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen on December 6-8, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

30% Favor Federal Funding for Abortions; 49% Are Opposed

Posted on December 1, 2021 | by Staff Writer

Under current law, no federal funding may be used to pay for abortions. Thirty percent (30%) of voters believe the law should be changed so that abortions can be paid for by the federal government. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 49% disagree and 21% are not sure.

A plurality of Democrats (47%) favor federal funding of abortions. Most Republicans (66%) are opposed. Among Independent voters, 25% favor changing the law and 48% favor continuing to ban the use of federal funding for abortions.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of women favor the ban on using federal funds for abortion. So do 46% of men.

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Question:

Under current law, no federal funding may be used to pay for abortions. Should the law be changed so that abortions can be paid for by the federal government?

30% Yes

49% No

21% Not sure

Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen on November 29-30, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

Voters Divided On Banning Abortions After Heartbeat Detected; 47% Favor While 41% Opposed

Posted on September 12, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters favor a proposal allowing abortions up to the moment a heartbeat is detected in the fetus. After that, abortions would not be allowed except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 41% are opposed and 13% are not sure.

The totals include 23% who Strongly Favor such a proposal and 27% who are Strongly Opposed. Among those most motivated to vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections, support for the measure is somewhat stronger than among the general population.

The survey also found that 46% of voters mistakenly believe that the abortion laws in the United States are more restrictive than in most European nations. Just 17% believe they are less restrictive.

The Washington Post reports that the United States is one of only seven countries in the world that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of a pregnancy. The others are North Korea, Vietnam, China, Canada, Netherlands, and Singapore.

In Canada, some provinces allow elective abortions only during the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy while others extend the limit to 24 weeks. However, abortions after 20 weeks are not always readily available for Canadians, so women are often referred to a clinic in the United States,

Data released earlier showed that 36% of voters believe it is too easy to get an abortion in America while 26% think it is too hard.

Given a choice, 56% of voters would support a candidate who said abortion should be allowed only during the first three months of a pregnancy rather than at any point during the pregnancy. Just 23% hold the opposite view and 21% are not sure.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters know of close friends or relatives who have had an abortion. That total includes 49% of those who attend church or other religious services every week.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of those with a college degree know someone who has had an abortion. Among those without a degree, that figure is 43%.

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Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen on September 8, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

49% Know Someone Who Had An Abortion

Posted on July 22, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters know of close friends or relatives who have had an abortion. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 41% do not and 10% are not sure.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of women know someone who had an abortion along with 46% of men.

The totals include 49% of those who attend church or other religious services every week, 46% of those who attend once or twice a month, and 51% of those who attend occasionally, rarely, or never.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of those with a college degree know someone who has had an abortion. Among those without a degree, that figure is 43%.

Data released earlier showed that 36% of voters believe it is too easy to get an abortion in America today. Twenty-six percent (26%) believe it is too hard.

Among those who believe it is too easy, 48% know someone who has had an abortion. Among those who believe it is too hard, 51% say the same.

Given a choice, 56% of voters would support a candidate who said abortion should be allowed only during the first three months of a pregnancy rather than at any point during the pregnancy.

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Methodology

The online survey of 1,000 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen July 12-13, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

56% Prefer Candidate Who Supports Abortion During First Trimester Only

Posted on July 22, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Given a choice, 56% of voters would support a candidate who said abortion should be allowed only during the first three months of a pregnancy rather than at any point during the pregnancy. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 23% hold the opposite view and 21% are not sure.

Republicans prefer the candidate supporting abortion rights during the first trimester only by a 69% to 13% margin. Independent voters hold the same view by a 50% to 16% margin.

Democrats are more evenly divided: 46% prefer the candidate who supports allowing an abortion only during the first three months while 35% would vote for the candidate allowing an abortion at any time during the pregnancy.

Data released earlier showed that 36% of voters believe it is too easy to get an abortion in America today. Twenty-six percent (26%) believe it is too hard.

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Methodology

36% Say It’s Too Easy to Get An Abortion; 26% Say Too Hard

Posted on July 21, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Thirty-six percent (36%) of voters believe it is too easy to get an abortion in America these days. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 26% take the opposite view and believe it is too hard. Twenty-one percent (21%) say the balance is about right and 18% are not sure.

However, among those who say the issue of an abortion is Very Important to their voting decision the numbers look much different. By a 53% to 22% margin, these voters believe it is too easy to get an abortion.

Republicans, by a 59% to 11% margin, believe it is too easy to get an abortion. Democrats, by a 39% to 19% margin, take the opposite view. Independent voters are evenly divided.

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Methodology

30% See Obamacare as Top Issue Before Supreme Court; 17% Say Abortion

Posted on October 6, 2020 | by Scott Rasmussen

Thirty percent (30%) of voters nationwide say Obamacare is the top issue before the Supreme Court at this time. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 17% named abortion as the top issue while 13% said 2nd Amendment issues. Additionally, 9% see issues surrounding the Administrative State as most important while 8% say Religious Liberty.

Seventeen percent (17%) say some other issue was tops and 6% are not sure.

Abortion is viewed as most important by 20% of Republicans and 18% of Democrats. When viewing results by party, that’s the only common ground. Among Independent voters, 13% see abortion as the top issue before the Court.

Among Democrats, 46% see Obamacare as the top issue. Just 26% of Independents agree along with 15% of Republicans.

For GOP voters, 2nd Amendment issues and Abortion top the list.

While Supreme Court issues are seen as important, there is often a misunderstanding about the issues themselves. Polling released earlier showed that most voters don’t know what would happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

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Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from October 1-3, 2020. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online or via text while 121 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

56% Don’t Know What Overturning Roe v. Wade Would Mean

Posted on October 1, 2020 | by Scott Rasmussen

Most Registered Voters (56%) don’t know what would happen if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that total includes 30% who mistakenly believe that abortion would be outlawed in the United States and 26% who are simply not sure.

Forty-four percent (44%) recognize that overturning Roe v. Wade would allow every state to establish its own laws governing abortion.

Misunderstanding on the issue is found all across the political spectrum. It is found among 57% of Independent voters, 56% of Democrats, and 54% of Republicans.

One of the great challenges in 21st century politics is recognizing that terms used in the political dialogue often are not perceived in the same way by voters.

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Methodology

The survey of 1,000 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen September 26, 2020. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.