Poll: Plurality
of Wisconsin voters favor same-sex marriage ban

Forty-eight percent of likely Wisconsin voters favor a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, while 40% oppose the measure, according to a statewide poll released Friday. But the poll, paid for WISC TV of Madison and conducted by Research 2000, showed that 12% were not sure.

And the telephone poll of 600 likely voters, conducted Monday through Wednesday, was listed as having a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

The amendment would declare that marriage is between one man and one woman and that unmarried individuals cannot be granted a legal status similar to marriage, such as civil unions pioneered by Vermont.

It has been approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and needs only voter approval on November 7 to take effect. The poll showed that men who responded favored the amendment 51% to 38%, with 11% not sure; women favor it 45% to 42%, with 13% not sure.

Democrats polled opposed the amendment 52% to 39%, with 9% not sure; Republicans favored it 65% to 20%, with 15% unsure; and independents opposed it 50% to 38%, with 12% not sure. (AP)