New Poll Shows Strong Support in the U.S. for Medication Abortion

Americans across party lines strongly support access to medication abortion—as well as people’s ability to make decisions about abortion with their doctors, according to a new poll by Axios/Ipsos.  

The results of the Axios/Ipsos Abortion Pill Study were published just days after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could threaten nationwide access to mifepristone, an abortion medication.

The case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, was brought by anti-abortion advocates to challenge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) initial approval of the drug and more recent actions by the FDA to expand its access. The Court is expected to issue a ruling in the case before the end of its term. 

Highlights of the poll’s findings include:

• Regardless of party, seven in ten (72%) Americans say they support women obtaining medication abortion from their doctor or a clinic, and 45% say they strongly support it. 
• Four in five (81%) respondents agree abortion issues should be managed between a woman and her doctor, not the government—a sentiment existing across party lines. 
• Fifty-eight percent say they are less likely to vote for a candidate that supports restricting access to abortion.

“This poll is further evidence that despite efforts by anti-abortion lawmakers to ban abortion, the majority of Americans strongly support abortion access—and they don’t want politicians interfering in their decisions about reproductive health care,” said Elisabeth Smith, Director of State Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Abortion is clearly an issue that will be on the minds of many voters this November.”

Strong Support for the FDA’s Role in Approving and Regulating Medications 

While fewer than half of Americans are familiar with the U.S. Supreme Court case about abortion medication, nearly four in five (79%) Americans across party lines say they support the FDA continuing to approve and regulate medications in the United States. 

Significantly fewer Americans (39%) say they trust the Supreme Court when it comes to information about health topics.

Read more about the survey and its findings here:

>> Axios/Ipsos Abortion Pill Study, 03.29.24