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August 10, 2011

8/10: Majority of New Yorkers Support Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

NY1/YNN/Marist New York State Poll

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Same-sex marriage has been legal in New York State for just a couple of weeks, but do New York State residents support the law?  According to this NY1/YNN-Marist Poll, a majority of adults in New York favor the law, and more than six in ten do not want the legislation to be overturned.

men holding hands

©istockphoto.com/cameronpashak

Click Here for Complete August 10th, 2011 NYS NY1/YNN-Marist Poll Release and Tables

Key findings include:

    • 55% of New York State adults support the legalization of same-sex marriage.  36% oppose it, and 9% are unsure.
  • Similar proportions of registered voters share these views.  55% of voters statewide favor same-sex marriage in New York State while 37% are against it.  Eight percent are unsure.

o   Looking at party, about two-thirds of Democratic voters — 66% — support the law.  And while a majority of Republican voters — 52% — oppose the law, 39% support it.  Nearly six in ten non-enrolled voters — 58% — applaud the law.

  • There are age differences.  Many New Yorkers under the age of 45 — 62% — back the legislation while just half of those 45 and older — 50% — say the same.
  • When it comes to the suit filed to overturn the law, 63% of adults statewide don’t want the law to be overturned.  However, 32% do, and 5% are unsure.
  • The same proportions of registered voters — 63%, 32%, and 5%, respectively — share these views.

o   72% of Democratic voters and 66% of non-enrolled voters statewide want the law to remain in effect.  Republican voters divide.  48% of Republicans think it should be overturned while 47% believe it should stay in place.

  • Nearly seven in ten suburban residents — 69% — and about two-thirds of those upstate — 66% — don’t want the law overturned.  57% of New York City adults agree.
  • Looking at age, 70% of those younger than 45 want the same-sex marriage law in effect while 59% of those 45 and older say the same.

Table: The Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in New York State

Table: The Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in New York State (Registered Voters)

Table: The Reversal of the Law Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage in New York State

Table: The Reversal of the Law Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage in New York State (Registered Voters)

Political Impact: Plurality More Likely to Vote for State Senator Who Supported Law

44% of registered voters in New York report they are more likely to vote for a state senator who voted to pass the same-sex marriage law.  Three in ten — 30% — are less likely to cast their ballot for such a legislator while nearly one in five — 19% — says it makes no difference to their vote.  Seven percent are unsure.

While a majority of Democratic voters — 55% — and a plurality of non-enrolled voters — 45% — think they are more likely to vote for a state senator who supported the same-sex marriage law, a plurality of Republican voters — 43%– say such a vote makes them less likely to support that state senator.

There is little difference regionally.  46% of voters in New York City’s suburbs, 44% of those in the city, and 41% of upstate voters report they are more likely to vote for a lawmaker who backed the law.

However, age differences exist.  A majority of voters younger than 45 years old — 52% — report support for the law positively impacts their vote for a state senator while 40% of older voters agree.

Table: More or Less Likely to Vote for a State Senator Who Supported Same-Sex Marriage Law (Registered Voters)

Most Don’t Expect to Attend Same-Sex Wedding But Would Attend If Asked

Although 79% of New York State residents do not expect to be a guest at the same-sex marriage of a family member or friend in the next year, 70% would attend such a ceremony.  Even 34% of adults who oppose the law legalizing same-sex marriage say they would go to the wedding of a gay or lesbian couple.

Key findings include:

  • 79% of New York State adults do not expect to attend a same-sex marriage in the coming year.  15% do, and 6% are unsure.
  • Seven in ten adults — 70% — would attend the same-sex marriage of a friend or family member.  71% of registered voters and 67% of Republicans would do the same.

Table: Expect to Attend a Same-Sex Marriage in the Next 12 Months

Table: Expect to Attend a Same-Sex Marriage in the Next 12 Months (Registered Voters)

Table: Would Attend a Same-Sex Marriage

Table: Would Attend a Same-Sex Marriage (Registered Voters)

NY1/YNN-Marist Poll Methodology