Gallup Poll Finds 60 Percent Want Abortion Illegal in All or Most Circumstances – Highest in 8 Years

Sixty percent of Americans say abortion should be illegal in all or most circumstances, according to a new Gallup survey that also found adults holding contradictory views on the subject.

It’s the highest percentage since 2011 of Americans opposing abortion most or all of the time. 

Gallup asked Americans whether they believe abortion should be illegal “in all circumstances,” in most circumstances, legal “under most circumstances” or legal “under any circumstances.”

Twenty-one percent say abortion should be illegal in all circumstances and 39 percent say it should be illegal under most circumstances, for a combined total of 60 percent. It’s the highest total since 2011 when it was 61 percent. 

Meanwhile, 49 percent of Americans consider themselves pro-life (the highest percentage since 2012) and 48 percent say they’re pro-choice. Not since 2013 has the percentage of pro-lifers outnumbered pro-choicers.

Still, the public remains conflicted about the legality of abortion, if not confused. That’s because the same sample that favors more restrictions on abortion also supports Roe v. Wade – the decision that prohibits most restrictions. 

A total of 60 percent of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade while 33 percent say it should be overturned. Roe and its companion Doe v. Bolton decision legalized…