A majority of New Jersey voters support
gay marriage, a new poll
found.
According to the Quinnipiac University
Polling Institute's poll of 1,460 registered voters, 53 percent of
respondents believe gay and lesbian couples should have the right to
marry, while 42 percent say they should not.
It is the first time the Quinnipiac
poll has reported support over 50 percent. An April 2009 survey
found 49 percent of voters in favor.
“Democrats are making same-sex
marriage their big opening issue and New Jersey voters support them,”
said poll director Maurice Carroll in reporting the findings. “There
are demographic splits – Catholics are more supportive than
Protestants. All groups support same-sex civil unions. Most groups
support allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, while black
voters are divided on that issue.”
Majorities of New Jersey voters do not
believe that gay marriage is a threat to heterosexual marriage (65%)
and think that denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry is
discriminatory (53%).
Carroll added that younger voters are
most supportive of marriage equality.
The poll conducted between January 10 –
16 has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.