UW poll finds mixed views on abortion and gun rights

A new University of Wyoming survey finds a wide range of views among Wyoming residents on abortion rights, reflecting nuanced views across the state.

The poll indicates that 11 percent of Wyomingites believe abortion should never be allowed. Meanwhile, 31% support allowing abortion only in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger, highlighting a conditional approach to the issue.

In addition, 30 percent believe that abortion should be allowed in situations beyond rape, incest and danger to the mother, provided the need has been clearly established. This perspective suggests a more situational approach, emphasizing careful analysis of circumstances.

In contrast, 39% of respondents support the belief that women should always have access to abortions as a matter of personal choice.

The survey at the state level was carried out between September 24 and October. 27, yielding 739 responses from randomly selected Wyoming residents. The margin of error for the distribution of responses to any individual survey question is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Men and women from all age groups and from all counties in Wyoming are proportionally represented in the survey data. The final survey data were weighted to reflect the actual distribution of Wyoming’s population by sex, age, county of residence, party affiliation, and education.

Among self-identified Republicans, the most common answer is that abortions are only allowed in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger, at 43 percent. The second most common answer among Republicans is that abortion should always be allowed as a matter of personal choice, at 22 percent.

Preferences are much more consistent among self-identified Democrats, as 86 percent believe abortion should always be allowed as a matter of personal choice.

“Wyoming residents represent a broad spectrum of views on abortion rights, reflecting deeply nuanced and personal perspectives,” says Ryan Williamson, assistant professor of political science at the UW.

Arms control measures

The UW poll also sheds light on Wyoming residents’ diverse perspectives on gun control measures, reflecting both support and opposition to various proposals.

A remarkable 58 percent of Wyomingites support the idea of ​​requiring the reporting and registration of firearms sales, while 28 percent oppose the measure. This suggests a majority favoring increased oversight of gun deals.

When it comes to licensing requirements, 49 percent of respondents think requiring a license to purchase or possess firearms or ammunition is a good idea, compared to 39 percent who think it’s unfavorable, indicating a split in opinion with on adding regulatory steps to gun ownership. .

Regarding gun-free zones, 36% believe eliminating these zones is beneficial, while 43% disagree, highlighting debates over the safety and accessibility of firearms in certain areas.

“The gun control questions in Wyoming underscore an apparent desire to strike a balance between safety measures and protecting individual rights,” Williamson says.

The biennial surveys of Wyoming residents are conducted by the UW School of Policy, Public Affairs and International Studies in partnership with the Wyoming Center for Polling and Analysis. Questions focus on attitudes toward government, elected officials, candidates for office, and contemporary political issues. Questions about the survey can be directed to [email protected].

A top report with methodological outline and full survey results can be found at https://wysac.uwyo.edu/wysac/projects/weys24/.

A random sample of all cellular and landline phones was generated for the UW survey. Selected respondents were contacted by email, mail, and telephone to complete the survey, with 59 percent responding via the web and the remaining 41 percent via live interviewer telephone (92 percent cellular).

“This approach to survey methodology gives every person in Wyoming with a phone an equal probability of selection for the survey,” says Brian Harnisch, director of the Wyoming Center for Research and Analysis. “Survey respondents accurately reflect the statewide population in terms of general demographic characteristics that include age, gender and county of residence, as well as other markers such as party affiliation and educational attainment.”