New polling shows majority of Californians support preborn protections after first trimester 

In the shadow of a looming constitutional amendment that would make abortion on demand a “fundamental right” in the state, a new Rasmussen poll shows that most California voters support abortion limits.

The poll, which was conducted August 10-11 and surveyed 1,006 California likely voters, found that only 13% are in favor of abortion on demand up until birth. On the contrary, a large majority (65%) are in favor of significant restrictions on abortion, including those who believe abortion should only be legal up until three months of pregnancy (32%), those who believe abortion should only be legal through the first month of pregnancy (19%), and those who believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances (14%). An additional 14% of likely California voters believe abortion should be legal up until six months of pregnancy.

The poll comes as California voters prepare to vote on Proposition 1, a constitutional amendment that would protect a “fundamental right” to “reproductive freedom,” defined as “their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion” or contraceptives. 

Abortion is legal in California up until the point of viability – usually defined as 24 weeks – and then afterward only for the life and health of the mother, even though an induced abortion is never medically necessary. The Rasmussen poll found that a majority of California voters who call themselves “pro-choice” (51%) believe that abortion should only be legal up until three months of pregnancy.

But if Proposition 1 succeeds, defining abortion as such a “fundamental right” could essentially render any limits on abortion in the state – even in the third trimester, up to birth – unconstitutional, contrary to what even most “pro-choice” Californians want. 

READ: California prepares to offer chemical abortions on college campuses

Although recent polling indicates a majority of Californians support Proposition 1, some Californians are calling out the measure for its duplicity.

Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills spoke to Rasmussen about it. “Gavin Newsom’s radical liberal government is trying to sneak past the people of California a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for abortion without limitations,” he said. “Proposition 1 on the 2022 ballot – which places no limits on abortion – is way too extreme even in a state where the majority say they are pro-choice. I believe abortion should never be enshrined in our constitution and allowing late-term abortion is especially evil.”

California state government officials have been ramping up efforts to construct a bulwark of support around abortion in the state. In fact, California has historically put significant effort into support of abortion; in 2018, Live Action News found that California taxpayers had paid over half a billion dollars in abortion funding over a 25-year period. Even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the state’s government signaled its intent to become an “abortion haven” for out-of-state women to abort their preborn babies, offering incentives for medical students to become abortionists, eliminating copays for abortions, enacting a bill that allows minors to use their parents’ insurance for secret abortions, and passing state-wide laws and local ordinances that have had a chilling effect on peaceful pro-life protests. 

“Like” Live Action News on Facebook for more pro-life news and commentary!