Satisfaction with abortion laws lowest since 2001

Just over a third of Americans are satisfied with the state of abortion laws, a poll released Monday found.

Thirty-four percent of adults were satisfied with abortion policy in the United States, the poll from Gallup found — the lowest percentage since the polling organization started asking the question in 2001. Forty-eight percent are dissatisfied, which is the highest rate of dissatisfaction since 2001.

Satisfaction with abortion laws has also fallen 10 percentage points since 2013.

The dropping number is largely driven by a drop in satisfaction among Republicans under the leadership of President Obama.

On average, 42 percent of Republicans were satisfied with the nation’s abortion policies under President George W. Bush. Just 26 percent are satisfied under Obama.

Most of the Republicans said that they would like to see the laws become more strict. A smaller percentage said they would like to see the laws be less strict.

Democrats and independents have remained more stable on the issue, regardless of who is in the White House. Forty-six percent of Democrats were satisfied during the Bush administration, and 47 percent have been satisfied under Obama.

Forty-two percent of independents were satisfied under Bush, and 40 percent have been satisfied during Obama’s tenure.

The poll had a sample of 804 adults and a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4 percentage points. In was conducted from Jan. 5-8.

The findings come not long after Republicans in the House decided not to vote on a bill that would have banned abortions more than 20 weeks into a pregnancy.