Three–Fourths Support NC Marriage Amendment

Special Report - February 25, 2009
The majority of voters in North Carolina support amending the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman, according to a new poll by the John W. Pope Civitas Institute. The Civitas Institute poll was released on February 24—the same day that the NC4Marriage Coalition and legislative sponsors of the “Defense of Marriage Act” announced the introduction of legislation in the General Assembly that will give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment in November 2009. According to the poll of 600 registered voters, 76 percent said they supported a “constitutional amendment in North Carolina defining marriage as between one man and one woman,” while 21 percent said they opposed the amendment. Support for the Marriage Protection Amendment has increased since the last time the Civitas Institute surveyed North Carolina voters about the issue. In May 2008, 71 percent said they supported the constitutional amendment, compared to 26 percent who said they were opposed it.

The Civitas Institute poll found strong support for the Marriage Protection Amendment among different races, with 75 percent of both African America and white voters supporting it. In addition to asking voters about their support or opposition to the Marriage Protection Amendment, the poll also asked voters to indicate whether they would be more or less likely to vote for a legislator “who refused to sponsor legislation authorizing a referendum on defining marriage as between one man and one woman?” The majority of voters in the survey, or 64 percent, said they would be less likely to support a legislator who refused to sponsor legislation on a marriage amendment, 19 percent said they would be more likely to vote for such a legislator, and 17 percent said it would make no difference, they were not sure, or refused to answer the question.

“Support for a constitutional amendment on marriage in North Carolina cuts across all groups and demographics,” said Francis De Luca, executive director of the Civitas Institute. “Combined with the two-thirds of voters who said they would consider voting against a legislator for not supporting legislation on a marriage amendment makes this a potential hot button issue in the next election.”

“This latest poll by the Civitas Institute highlights the broad-based support for a Marriage Protection Amendment in North Carolina,” said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of NC4Marriage. “this approval rating is in line with the other southern states that have approved marriage amendments. It is further evidence that if given the opportunity to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment, North Carolinians would likely approve it by a huge majority. They deserve the chance to do so this year.”

Copyright © 2009. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.