Old North News

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) recent bill is a proposal that would effectively ban abortions beyond the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, excluding cases of rape or incest, or those threatening the life of the mother.

Recent polls indicate that a majority of voters favor some restrictions on abortions, but North Carolina candidate Cheri Beasley opposes setting a time limit on abortions and has supported a law codifying Roe v. Wade.

“We will introduce legislation, along with a lot of my colleagues, to basically get America in a position at the federal level -- I think that is fairly consistent with the rest of the world -- that would say after 15 weeks, no abortion on demand, except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, and that should be where America’s at,” Graham said, according to his website. 

Graham’s bill would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks, but it allows states with more restrictive abortion laws to remain. According to his website, this “puts the United States in line with other modern societies -- 47 out of 50 European nations limit elective abortion prior to 15 weeks gestation.”

That would be in keeping with how many Americans say they feel about the issue. 

The Trafalgar Group recently conducted a "Federal Abortion Law Nationwide Survey" Sept. 16 and 17. More than 1,000 likely voters responded. The survey asked respondents to choose between two bills: the first would prevent abortions after 15 weeks, except in cases of rape, incest and the mother’s health; the second would give women the right to abortion at any point during pregnancy. The 15-week ban on abortion would still allow individual states to incur further restrictions, whereas the second option would prevent individual states from more restrictions. Almost six out of 10 respondents (59.1%) chose option 1, and 40.9% chose option 2. The margin of error was 2.9%. 

Trafalgar’s polling methodology included “live callers, integrated voice response, text messages, emails and two other proprietary digital methods we don’t share publicly.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that more Americans support a 15-week abortion ban than oppose it. WSJ's analysis from April that surveyed 1,500 voters shows that 48% of voters support a 15-week ban on abortion, except in cases of the mother’s health, and 43% oppose it. Although this analysis was completed before Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, state legislators in Arizona and Florida were already pushing for a 15-week ban within their states.

WSJ cites a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) poll that found 95% of abortions in 2019 took place during or up to 15 weeks.

“There has to be a valid reason” for an abortion after 15 weeks, Joann Belmares, 59, of Pennsylvania, told WSJ. “Has to be more than ‘I just changed my mind’.” 

Others support a ban at six weeks gestation, similar to a law in Texas and Idaho, according to WSJ. 

Molly Murphy, a Democrat who ran the WSJ poll, said the differing opinions “speak to the conflict in people’s minds on this issue.… Most people want abortion to be legal, but where you draw the line varies.”

Elsewhere, a Harris poll, conducted by Harvard’s Center for Political Studies (CAPS), asked 1,308 voters their thoughts on abortion at the end of June, right after Roe was overturned. The poll found “a majority of voters expect a rollback of abortion rights at the state level." 

When asked, “Do you think your state should allow abortion?” 10% said yes to up to nine months, 18% said yes to up to 23 weeks, 23% said yes to up to 15 weeks, 12% said yes to up to six weeks and 37% said yes, but only in cases of rape and incest. 

The Harris Poll found that 60% of Democratic voters would support a 15-week ban, while 40% would support abortion up to 23 weeks and longer. Most (84%)  Republican voters support a 15-week ban. Among female participants, 75% would support a 15-week ban, while 25% would oppose the time restriction, according to the Harris poll.

While it seems more voters favor time limits, Fox 8 News reports that Beasley, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) for a U.S. Senate seat representing North Carolinians, has criticized Budd for supporting Graham’s 15-week abortion ban proposal.

“Congressman Budd will stop at nothing to put himself between women and doctors. His national abortion ban will not only take away our freedom -- it will cost North Carolina women their lives, and he owes an explanation to every woman whose life he has now put at risk,” Beasley said, according to Fox 8 News.

Beasley supports efforts to codify abortion rights in North Carolina.