Post-Roe v. Wade: Where Americans Stand on Abortion

Having always been a controversial topic, the reversal of Roe v. Wade has reignited and intensified the debate around abortion in the United States, as it shifted the battleground to the state level, highlighting stark contrasts in public opinion across different regions. While many view abortion as a fundamental issue of women's rights and bodily autonomy, others consider it moral issue concerning the sanctity of life. This clash of seemingly irreconcilable values has made abortion a contentious and polarizing issue for decades but even more so in today’s political landscape.

A June 2024 survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of The Economist, highlights this division. While 59 percent of respondents think that abortion should be legal, either with or without restrictions on gestational age, 31 percent of respondents think it should only be legal in special circumstances, for example when the life of the mother is in danger. Another 10 percent even oppose such exceptions, saying that abortions should never be allowed.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade created a fractured landscape of legal access to abortion, mirroring the political division of the country. While many red states have implemented near-total bans or strict restrictions of abortions, most blue states allow adoptions under certain circumstances.