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South Dakota: Abortion

Self-Identification
Right to an Abortion
Morality of Abortion
Accessibility of Abortion
Restrictions on Abortion
Personally Know Women Who Had Abortions
Governmental Role in Abortion Policy
Referred Law Prohibition of Abortion

Self-Identification

Self-Identification of Abortion Views

Poll	Date	Pro-Life	Pro-Choice	No opinion	Sample	MoE
SurveyUSA¹	November 8-11, 2006	45%	52%	3%	600	± 4.1
SurveyUSA¹	October 12-15, 2006	45%	51%	4%	600	± 3.9
SurveyUSA¹	September 14-17, 2006	47%	48%	5%	600	± 3.9
SurveyUSA¹	August 11-13, 2006	44%	52%	4%	600	± 4.0
SurveyUSA¹	July 14-16, 2006	47%	47%	6%	600	± 3.9
SurveyUSA¹	June 9-11, 2006	47%	50%	3%	600	± 4.0
SurveyUSA¹	May 12-14, 2006	46%	51%	3%	600	± 3.9
SurveyUSA¹	April 7-9, 2006	47%	50%	3%	600	± 4.0
SurveyUSA¹	March 10-12, 2006	45%	50%	5%	600	± 4.0
SurveyUSA¹	February 10-12, 2006	48%	48%	4%	600	± 3.7
SurveyUSA¹	January 13-15, 2006	48%	49%	3%	600	± 3.6
SurveyUSA¹	December 9-11, 2005	51%	44%	5%	600	± 3.6
SurveyUSA¹	November 11-13, 2005	51%	44%	5%	600	± 3.6
SurveyUSA¹	October 14-16, 2005	49%	46%	5%	600	± 3.5
SurveyUSA¹	September 16-18, 2005	50%	46%	4%	600	± 3.5
SurveyUSA¹	August 12-14, 2005	49%	47%	5%	582	± 4.1
SurveyUSA¹	July 8-10, 2005	46%	50%	4%	600	± 3.6
SurveyUSA¹	June 10-12, 2005	47%	48%	5%	600	± 4.1

1 "On abortion, are you pro-life? Or pro-choice?"

Right to an Abortion

Pollster	Date	Legal	Restricted	Illegal	No opinion	Sample	MoE
KELO-TV / Argus Leader¹	May 10-12, 2004	34%	38%	25%	3%	800 LV	± 3.5

1 "Which one of the following comes closest to your view on the issue of abortion? Abortion should be legal and the decision to have an abortion should be made by the woman without government interference, abortion should be legal, but restricted to very specific circumstances, such as rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, abortion should be illegal and not permitted under any circumstances."

Morality of Abortion

Abortion Morally Wrong

Poll	Date	Yes	No	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	February 28, 2006	60%	27%	13%	500 LV	± 4.5

1 "Is abortion morally wrong most of the time?"

Accessibility of Abortion

Poll	Date	Too easy	Too hard	About right	No Opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	February 28, 2006	44%	25%	19%	12%	500 LV	± 4.5

1 "Generally speaking, is it too easy for a woman to get an abortion in South Dakota or too hard?"

Restrictions On Abortion

Abortion Illegal Except When Life of Mother At Risk

Poll	Date	Favor	Oppose	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	February 28, 2006	45%	45%	9%	500 LV	± 4.4

1 "The bill passed by the legislature would permit abortion only in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. Do you favor or oppose permitting abortion only in cases where the life of the mother is at risk?"

State Abortion Restrictions

Poll	Date	Support	Oppose	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Daily Republic¹	March 27-28, 2004	53%	43%	5%	501	± 4.5

1 Poll also sponsored by the Rapid City Journal, KSFY-TV, KOTA-TV, and the Watertown Public Opinion.

Personally Know Women Who Had Abortions

Poll	Date	Yes	No	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	February 28, 2006	55%	39%	7%	500 LV	± 4.4

1 "Do you personally know anyone who has had an abortion?"

Governmental Role in Abortion Policy

Poll	Date	State	Federal	No say	No opinion	Sample	MoE
SurveyUSA¹	July 8-10, 2005	20%	17%	59%	4%	600	± 4.0

1 "Who should have the final say on abortion: your state government, the Federal Government, or should the government have no say?"

Referred Law Prohibition of Abortion

Support for Referred Law to Prohibit Abortion

Poll	Date	Yes	No	No opinion	Sample	MoE
KELO-TV / Argus Leader¹	October 24-26, 2006	41%	50%	9%	800 LV	± 3.5
KELO-TV / Argus Leader¹	July 24-26, 2006	39%	47%	14%	800 LV	± 3.5

1 "Referred Law 6 on the November ballot is the petitioned referendum on state House Bill 1215. It would prohibit any person, at any time, from providing any medicine or other substance to a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy. However, a person may provide a contraception substance to a woman without penalty prior to the time her pregnancy could be determined by conventional medical testing. It would also prohibit any person, at any time, from using any instrument or procedure on a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy, unless the person is a licensed physician performing a medical procedure to prevent the death of the pregnant woman. If approved, this law will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the US Constitution. If so, the State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs. If you were voting on this Referred Law today, would you vote: "YES", to allow the Act to become law or, "NO", to reject the Act?"

Support for Referred Law to Prohibit Abortion With Rape & Incest Exceptions

Poll	Date	Yes	No	No opinion	Sample	MoE
KELO-TV / Argus Leader¹	July 24-26, 2006	59%	29%	12%	800 LV	± 3.5

1 "If the Bill allowed for an exception for cases of rape or incest, would you vote "Yes" or "No?"
Note: Asked of respondents voting 'no' or 'undecided' to Referred Law 6.

Impact of Referred Law to Prohibit Abortion on Likelihood to Vote

Poll	Date	More	Less	No effect	No opinion	Sample	MoE
KELO-TV / Argus Leader¹	October 24-26, 2006	41%	13%	46%	0%	600 LV	± 4.0

Attentiveness to Legislative Abortion Ban Bill

Poll	Date	Very closely	Somewhat closely	Not very closely	Not at all closely	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	February 28, 2006	61%	31%	8%	1%	0%	500 LV	± 4.5

1 "How closely have you followed news stories about a legialtive bill banning most abortions in South Dakota?"