Who Gets a Say? Exploring Public Perceptions of Reproductive Rights
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By The VCU Wilder School Office of Research and Outreach
April 8, 2024
Reproductive rights have long been a subject of intense debate, activism and legal battles in the United States and around the world. At the heart of this complex issue lies the fundamental question of the autonomy of individuals over their bodies and their reproductive choices, as well as the extent to which a government should have a say in how and when these decisions are made. Reproductive rights encompass a wide range of issues, including access to contraception, abortion, prenatal care and fertility treatments. These rights are also influenced by various factors, including shifting political ideologies, religious beliefs, advancements in medical technology and evolving societal norms. As a result, the policy landscape of reproductive rights in the United States is intricate and continually evolving, reflecting the ongoing struggle to balance personal freedom, public health concerns and moral considerations.
During the November 2023 election, reproductive rights were once again in the spotlight. Voters in Ohio approved a state constitutional amendment giving every individual the right to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions; this included, but was not limited to, decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care and abortion. The ballot measure did not allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”
To get a better understanding of how people in Virginia feel about reproductive decisions and who should be involved in them, the January 2024 Commonwealth Poll asked participants whether they would vote for or against a similar measure in Virginia if one were introduced.
This poll obtained telephone interviews with a representative sample of 812 adults, ages 18 or older, living in Virginia. Telephone interviews were conducted in English by landline (200) and cell phone (612). The survey was conducted from December 28 2023, to January 13, 2024. A two-stage weighting procedure was used to weight this dual-frame sample by the demographic characteristics of gender, age, education, race, ethnicity, Hispanic origin, region of residence and personal phone use. The overall margin of error for the Poll was +/- 5.46 percent.
Findings showed that the majority (57 percent) of Virginians said they would vote yes in such a referendum, and would support a state constitutional amendment giving every individual the right to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions. Conversely, 24 percent of participants said they would vote no, with a few sizable differences across demographics.
Virginians age 25 to 34 were less likely to vote yes (45 percent) compared with 73 percent of both 18- to 24-year-olds and 35- to 44-year-olds. Those with higher levels of education were also more likely to vote yes than those with lower levels of education, as were Democrats, while majorities of people of all races/ethnicities said that they would support the hypothetical ballot measure.
Reproductive rights were also an important motivator during the November 2023 election, with poll data showing that 21 percent of voters said that reproductive rights were the most important reason they voted. This was followed by education (19 percent), inflation (17 percent), immigration (9 percent), crime (9 percent) and maintaining democracy and civility (0 percent). Again there were differences among demographic groups, with women, racial and ethnic minorities and Democrats being most likely to choose this option.
Reproductive rights were also a key topic on which Virginia’s voters though the General Assembly should focus during their legislative session, though they didn’t rank as highly as they did in the voting motivation question. In this case, the primary issue on which people thought the General Assembly should focus was inflation (26 percent), followed by education (20 percent), reproductive rights (17 percent), immigration (14 percent), crime (12 percent) and maintaining democracy and civility (0 percent).
From a nationwide perspective, data from the Kaiser Family Foundation indicate that, similar to Virginia’s findings, women, Black individuals, younger individuals and Democrats are typically most likely to support reproductive freedom. This data also found that the majority of voters believe that the 2024 elections for president, members of Congress and state legislatures will have a major impact on reproductive rights moving forward.
Polling serves as a vital resource in gauging societal perceptions and attitudes towards important yet sometimes contentious topics such as reproductive rights. As debates over legislation related to reproductive rights continue, we can use these poll findings to foster understanding, shape public policies and advocate for equitable healthcare services for all.
Author: The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy advances research and training that informs public policy and decisionmaking to improve our communities. Drawing on the wide-ranging expertise of Wilder School faculty, we provide services including leadership development and training, economic and policy impact analysis, survey insights and program evaluation to clients in governments, nonprofits, businesses and the public, across Virginia and beyond. Twitter: @VCUWilderSchool
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Who Gets a Say? Exploring Public Perceptions of Reproductive Rights
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By The VCU Wilder School Office of Research and Outreach
April 8, 2024
Reproductive rights have long been a subject of intense debate, activism and legal battles in the United States and around the world. At the heart of this complex issue lies the fundamental question of the autonomy of individuals over their bodies and their reproductive choices, as well as the extent to which a government should have a say in how and when these decisions are made. Reproductive rights encompass a wide range of issues, including access to contraception, abortion, prenatal care and fertility treatments. These rights are also influenced by various factors, including shifting political ideologies, religious beliefs, advancements in medical technology and evolving societal norms. As a result, the policy landscape of reproductive rights in the United States is intricate and continually evolving, reflecting the ongoing struggle to balance personal freedom, public health concerns and moral considerations.
During the November 2023 election, reproductive rights were once again in the spotlight. Voters in Ohio approved a state constitutional amendment giving every individual the right to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions; this included, but was not limited to, decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care and abortion. The ballot measure did not allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”
To get a better understanding of how people in Virginia feel about reproductive decisions and who should be involved in them, the January 2024 Commonwealth Poll asked participants whether they would vote for or against a similar measure in Virginia if one were introduced.
This poll obtained telephone interviews with a representative sample of 812 adults, ages 18 or older, living in Virginia. Telephone interviews were conducted in English by landline (200) and cell phone (612). The survey was conducted from December 28 2023, to January 13, 2024. A two-stage weighting procedure was used to weight this dual-frame sample by the demographic characteristics of gender, age, education, race, ethnicity, Hispanic origin, region of residence and personal phone use. The overall margin of error for the Poll was +/- 5.46 percent.
Findings showed that the majority (57 percent) of Virginians said they would vote yes in such a referendum, and would support a state constitutional amendment giving every individual the right to make and carry out their own reproductive decisions. Conversely, 24 percent of participants said they would vote no, with a few sizable differences across demographics.
Virginians age 25 to 34 were less likely to vote yes (45 percent) compared with 73 percent of both 18- to 24-year-olds and 35- to 44-year-olds. Those with higher levels of education were also more likely to vote yes than those with lower levels of education, as were Democrats, while majorities of people of all races/ethnicities said that they would support the hypothetical ballot measure.
Reproductive rights were also an important motivator during the November 2023 election, with poll data showing that 21 percent of voters said that reproductive rights were the most important reason they voted. This was followed by education (19 percent), inflation (17 percent), immigration (9 percent), crime (9 percent) and maintaining democracy and civility (0 percent). Again there were differences among demographic groups, with women, racial and ethnic minorities and Democrats being most likely to choose this option.
Reproductive rights were also a key topic on which Virginia’s voters though the General Assembly should focus during their legislative session, though they didn’t rank as highly as they did in the voting motivation question. In this case, the primary issue on which people thought the General Assembly should focus was inflation (26 percent), followed by education (20 percent), reproductive rights (17 percent), immigration (14 percent), crime (12 percent) and maintaining democracy and civility (0 percent).
From a nationwide perspective, data from the Kaiser Family Foundation indicate that, similar to Virginia’s findings, women, Black individuals, younger individuals and Democrats are typically most likely to support reproductive freedom. This data also found that the majority of voters believe that the 2024 elections for president, members of Congress and state legislatures will have a major impact on reproductive rights moving forward.
Polling serves as a vital resource in gauging societal perceptions and attitudes towards important yet sometimes contentious topics such as reproductive rights. As debates over legislation related to reproductive rights continue, we can use these poll findings to foster understanding, shape public policies and advocate for equitable healthcare services for all.
Author: The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy advances research and training that informs public policy and decisionmaking to improve our communities. Drawing on the wide-ranging expertise of Wilder School faculty, we provide services including leadership development and training, economic and policy impact analysis, survey insights and program evaluation to clients in governments, nonprofits, businesses and the public, across Virginia and beyond. Twitter: @VCUWilderSchool
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