Poll: 67 percent of Iowa voters want marriage amendment on ballot

BPnews.net ^ | Jul 14, 2009 | Michael Foust

[rhema]

DES MOINES, Iowa (BP)--In the first statewide survey since the Iowa Supreme Court's landmark "gay marriage" ruling, a new poll shows that just over two-thirds of the state's voters support placing a constitutional marriage amendment on the ballot.

The survey of 500 registered voters by Voter/Consumer Research was released Monday, more than three months after the court made the state the first in the heartland to recognize "marriages" between homosexuals.

The proposed marriage amendment -- proposed immediately after the ruling by state legislative Republicans but blocked by Democratic leaders -- likely will be an issue in next year's gubernatorial and General Assembly races. One candidate for the GOP nomination, Bob Vander Plaats, has pledged to make it a central theme of his campaign.

In the poll, 67 percent of voters support placing an amendment on the ballot while 27 percent believe the issue of "gay marriage" is best decided by the state Supreme Court.

The poll asked, "The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled gay marriages can legally be conducted in the state. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision, do you think Iowa voters should have the chance to vote on a traditional marriage amendment to the constitution or is the issue best decided by the Supreme Court?"

The survey was conducted for TheIowaRepublican.com website. Among Republicans surveyed, 87 percent favor putting the amendment on the ballot.

Bryan English, a spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, told the website that the poll numbers should open eyes.

"Public opinion on marriage is consistently a 65-70 percent issue, and the numbers tell us that Iowans want the right to vote on the Iowa Marriage Amendment," he said. "How the political class responds to these numbers will help separate the wheat from the chaff among those who seek office in 2010."

[Gay State Conservative]

I hope they succeed in Iowa.Here in the Gay State many polls show that the majority of voters oppose homosexual "marriage"...just as in Iowa.But the Pervert Lobby in this state has succeeded in keeping it off the ballot.Their chant is "you can't legalize hate".

I'd wager the clothes on my back that there's not a state in the nation in which homosexual "marriage" could win in a referendum.

[Jacquerie]

In other words, 27% of the sheeple would have no problem being governed by a monarch, dictator or oligarchy

[Cicero]

Well, people are confused. First they vote for Democrats who support abortion and gay marriage and support similarly minded judges. And then they are surprised and offended when the judges give them unlimited abortions and imposed gay marriage.

[Gunflint]

“There ain’t no black people in Iowa.”
-Michelle Obama

[Repeal 16-17]

No need for Iowa to amend its State Constitution. All of this will be resolved by de facto Chief Justice Kennedy. [/sarc]

[Recovering_Democrat]

Looks like the voters of Iowa will be giving the Supreme Court the same message California voters gave their kangaroos in black robes.

[vpintheak]

The Iowegians restore my faith! (Former Iowegian)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The bigger story from this poll is that the sentiment was completely missed by the Des Moines Register, which last week fired 38 employees but claimed the paper would still be the place for investigative journalism.

[HereInTheHeartland]

7 judges made this ruling.
Iowa law ( and the popular opinion) says marriage is between a man and a woman.