A majority of Californian voters support gay marriage, a new poll found.

The survey released last week by Public Policy Polling found 51 percent of voters in the Golden State believe gay marriage should be legal, while 40 percent believe it should be illegal. That's an increase of 5 percentage points since September's results.

The largest increase in support came from Republicans and independents. Republican voters increased from 15 percent in support to 29, nearly doubling in 4 months. Sixty-six percent of self-identified Democrats say gay marriage should be legal.

In 2008, voters approved the state's gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. The constitutional amendment was ruled unconstitutional by a federal court last year. A decision on an appeal to the case is expected within the next few months.

“The tide is turning toward equality in one of the bluest states in the country as the courts head toward a possible overturning of Prop 8,” Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, said in a statement.

The poll surveyed 892 California voters from January 28th to 30th. The survey's margin of error is +/- 3.3%.