When Kate Looby says the voters of South Dakota "don't want government involved in this very personal, private family issue," she displays an ignorance of what South Dakota voters think about abortion.
An Argus/KELO poll in May of 2004 found 63% of South Dakotans supported an abortion ban with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape, and incest. That poll found 25 percent said abortion should be illegal in any circumstance; 38 percent said it should be legal but restricted “to very specific circumstances, such as rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.”
A Focus South Dakota poll in March 2006 found: 22 percent believe abortion should be legal and left entirely up to women; 15 percent believe it should be legal but parental consent should be required if pregnant females are younger than 16; 25 percent believe abortion should be legal in cases of rape, incest and medical danger to a woman’s life; 20 percent believe abortion should be allowed only to save a woman’s life; 13 percent believe abortion should not be legal under any circumstances; and the rest were undecided. That’s 58% who would support an abortion ban such as currently proposed.
An Argus Leader poll in July of 2006 regarding HB 1215 indicated the ban would have broader overall support if it included an exception for cases involving rape or incest. Those undecided or against that form of the abortion ban were asked if they would favor the proposed law if it included those exceptions. Statewide, 59% said they would support that form of an abortion restriction.
So, since May of 2004, polls have found between 58% and 63% of South Dakotans opposed to abortion save for cases involving the life of the mother, rape, or incest.
The notion that an abortion ban with exceptions is not supported by the people can only be from ignorance or dishonesty.