By Baird Helgeson
Nearly half of Minnesotans say that abortion should be a women's personal choice, according to a survey by St. Cloud State University. The phone survey of 550 randomly chosen adults found that 46 percent say women should have the right to have an abortion, with 10 percent saying it should never be allowed. Despite decades of political rancor over the issue, only about 1 percent of Minnesotans say it's the most important issue facing the state. Of those who describe their political views as somewhat or very liberal, 70 percent support personal choice. About 20 percent who described themselves as somewhat or very conservative say abortion should never be allowed. The survey found people in suburban areas were more likely to oppose abortion, but that otherwise the results didn't change based on geographic region. About 63 percent of Minnesotans believe Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ensured women have the right to abortions, should not be overturned. Among those who are 18 to 24 year olds, more than 80 percent do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. The survey, conducted between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.
