Poll: Arkansans Favor Pro-Life Laws, Overwhelmingly Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

Abortion, Homosexuality,

The 2015 Arkansas Poll released by the University of Arkansas today shows Arkansans overwhelmingly oppose recognition of same-sex marriage.

According to the poll, 64% of likely voters said same-sex marriage “should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages.”

The poll comes as little surprise. Arkansans made it abundantly clear in 2004 they favor defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman; virtually every poll conducted since then has shown continued support for that definition among Arkansans.

The poll also shows 47% of likely voters favor laws making it “more difficult for a woman to get an abortion”–the highest percentage since 2003. Only 12% said it ought to be “easier” to get an abortion.

This number coincides with declining abortion levels in Arkansas–which have fallen drastically since the 1990’s–and new pro-life laws.

You can see the entire poll summary here.

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Houston Rejects “Equal Rights” Ordinance

Religious Freedom, ,

Voters in Houston rejected a so-called “equal rights” ordinance by a vote of roughly 61% to 39%.

This represents a major victory for religious liberty in Houston. As you may recall, Houston’s mayor tried to subpoena pastors’ sermons and church documents last year during the debate over the ordinance.

In 2014 the Houston City Council passed the controversial “Houston Equal Rights Ordinance” which gives special protections to citizens based on sexual-orientation and gender-identity.

The proposal threatened the liberty of religious people and institutions who object to homosexual behavior, and it arguably would have allowed a biological male to enter women’s restrooms, showers, locker rooms, and similar facilities in Houston.

Houston residents petitioned to bring the ordinance up for a popular vote. This week, voters made their position overwhelmingly clear.

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Ohio Voters Soundly Reject Marijuana Proposal

Marijuana

This week voters in Ohio rejected a marijuana legalization proposal by a margin of nearly 2-to-1.

Issue 3–which would have allowed Ohioans 21 and older to grow and use marijuana, and would have allowed children and adults to use so-called “medical” marijuana–failed, with 64% of voters voting against the proposal.

The vote may signal changing opinions on marijuana legalization. Colorado’s experiment with recreational marijuana sales has demonstrated legalizing marijuana does not eliminate black market drug sales; does not bolster tax revenue the way many marijuana proponents claim; and leads to increased drug problems among youth.

You can see Ohio’s election results here.

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