US Adults Still Back Legal Abortion 3 Years After Roe v. Wade Overturned

Three years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, legal abortion support remains high among U.S. adults, according to a new AP-NORC poll, with about 64% saying abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Despite rising state restrictions, public sentiment toward abortion rights has remained mostly stable since the 2022 Supreme Court decision, which allowed states to implement abortion bans at any stage of pregnancy.

Abortion Views After Roe v. Wade Was Overturned

Since the ruling, 12 states have implemented total abortion bans, and four more have done so after six weeks — often before pregnancy is detectable. Yet public opinion hasn’t shifted dramatically.

Half of Americans believe abortion should be available in their state for any reason, with support remaining strong even in states with the strictest laws.

“Support for legal abortion dipped slightly from 2024 but is still near pre-ruling levels,” researchers at AP-NORC found.

Party Lines and Personal Experience Shape Opinions

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to support abortion access, though both sides saw minor drops in support over the past year.

Some, like Wilaysha White, a 25-year-old from Ohio, say their position has evolved.

“Seeing women sick and not being put first — that’s just scary,” she said. “I’d rather have it be legal across the board.”

Others, like Julie Reynolds from Arizona, stand firmly against abortion. “I took a life. I live with that every day,” she said.

Legal Abortion Support in Medical Emergencies

A vast majority — at least 8 in 10 Americans — believe abortion should be legal in specific medical cases:

  • When the fetus cannot survive

  • When the patient’s life is endangered

  • In cases of rape or incest

These exceptions have been spotlighted in states with total bans, like Florida, where residents fear not having access to necessary care.

Nicole Jones, 32, voiced concern: “We’d have to travel out of state or risk my life because of this ban.”

State vs. State: Traveling for Abortion Access

Americans are more divided on whether out-of-state abortion access should be legally protected:

  • 55% support protecting a patient’s right to travel for abortion

  • About 40% support legal protections for doctors who prescribe abortion pills via telehealth

These prescriptions have helped sustain national abortion access even as in-person clinic visits declined.

Final Takeaways from the AP-NORC Poll

The poll, conducted July 10–14, surveyed 1,437 adults across the country with a margin of error of ±3.6%. Its findings reinforce that, despite legal shifts, legal abortion support remains a majority stance in the U.S.

Source: AP News