Poll: New Yorkers Pleased With Marriage Equality Law

A new poll indicates that a solid majority of New Yorkers supports the
marriage equality law that took effect last month, with 63% being
opposed to the prospect of overturning the measure.

The NY1/Marist poll found that 55% of New York State residents support the new law, 36% oppose it, and 9% are unsure. Among registered voters, the percentages are quite similar. Support increases among people making more than $50,000 per year (59%), college graduates (62%), people under 45 years of age (62%), and the white population compared to the nonwhite population (67% to 59%).

According to NY1, the poll suggests that a vote for marriage equality would not likely be a “major liability” for individual senators. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 33 to 29 in June, with four Republican senators joining all but one Democrat to vote in favor of it.

“The poll found 44 percent of voters say they are more likely to support a state senator who voted to pass the Marriage Equality Act, while 30 percent are less likely,” reports NY1. “Among registered Democrats, 55 percent are more likely and 21 percent less likely to support state senators who voted for the bill. Among registered Republicans, 24 percent are more likely and 43 percent are less likely to support state senators who voted for the bill. About 45 percent of independent voters are more likely to vote for that state senator, whereas 35 percent are less likely.”

Opponents of the marriage equality law, who have filed a lawsuit over the process and procedure used to pass it, have also threatened to raise millions to unseat the four Republicans from upstate New York in elections next year. According to the new poll, however, 63% of state residents do not want to see the law overturned, compared to 32% who do and 5% who are unsure. Some 72% of Democrats and 66% of independents want to maintain the law, while Republicans are divided with 48% in support of repealing the law and 47% opposed to overturning it.

The poll also found that 79% of New Yorkers do not expect to attend a same-sex wedding within the next year, but 70%, including 34% who oppose the marriage equality law, would attend a ceremony if invited.

The poll of 600 New York State residents in late July has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.