76% of CA likely voters and 60% of self-described pro-choice voters want significant abortion restrictions

Contact: Patrick Korten, 203-752-4474; Andrew Walther 818-522-2005; both with Knights of Columbus  

NEW HAVEN, Conn., October 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- A newly released survey of California voters shows support for Proposition 4 - a proposed law that requires a waiting period and parental notification before a girl under 18 is allowed to have an abortion. The initiative holds a 19 percentage point lead among likely voters, 52% to 33%.  The survey was conducted for the Knights of Columbus by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion between September 28 and October 5, 2008.

The survey shows that Proposition 4 has majority support among women (55% to 31%), Latinos (61% to 27%), those who are married (59% to 25%) and those age 45 or older (55% to 28%).  The initiative also leads among men (49% to 34%). Those opposed include likely voters 18 to 29 years old (52% to 41%).

The poll also shows that Proposition 4 leads by double digits in every region of California except the Bay Area, where a plurality of 48% is opposed.

Among California likely voters, 75% say that parents or legal guardians have the right to know if their underage daughter is seeking an abortion.

The survey also found that 76% of likely California voters favor significant restrictions on abortion, including 47% who believe abortion should be restricted to cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, or should never be permitted. Among key groups, 84% of Catholic likely voters favor significant restrictions. Sharing this view are 85% of Latino likely voters, including 61% who would limit abortion to cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother or believe it should never be permitted.

Full details of the poll results can be found at www.kofc.org.