Poll Shows Record New Jersey Support for Gay Marriage

A new poll indicates a record high of support for same-sex marriage among New Jersey voters in the days after Governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill, although a solid majority of voters also approves of his proposal to put the issue on the ballot this fall.

Bloomberg reports on the findings of the Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, almost two weeks after the governor vetoed the bill the state legislature passed last month.

"Registered voters favor gay marriage 57 percent to 37 percent, according to the survey released today," reports Bloomberg. "They also approve, 67 percent to 28 percent, Christie's proposal to put the matter on the November ballot, a plan rejected by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, leaders in the Democratic-controlled Legislature."

The findings reflect two earlier polls that indicated voters approved of marriage equality, but wanted a referendum on the issue. In the new poll, participants split 48% to 47% on whether Christie should have vetoed the bill.

According to Bloomberg, the results show the highest support yet for same-sex marriage in New Jersey among six Quinnipiac polls on the issue since November 2006. The previous poll in January showed that 52% of voters favored same-sex marriage and 42% opposed it. When Quinnipiac took its first poll more than five years ago, 41% were in favor of same-sex marriage and 50% opposed it.