North Carolina Voters Expected to Ban Gay Marriage

A measure that would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions is expected to pass Tuesday in North Carolina, according to the latest poll of likely voters there. If approved, Amendment One defining marriage as between one man and one woman would be added to the state’s constitution.

The News & Observer:

The referendum holds a 16-point advantage, 55 percent in favor and 39 percent against, according to the Public Policy Polling survey, a left-leaning Raleigh-based firm. The numbers shifted little in the final week as big-names on either side of the debate – Rev. Billy Graham for and former President Bill Clinton against – made final pleas to persuade voters.

Many voters still don’t understand what the amendment would accomplish, pollster Tom Jensen said, noting that a majority of North Carolinians support some legal recognition for same-sex couples. “Opponents of the amendment had an uphill battle in convincing voters that it was anything other than a referendum on gay marriage, even though it does go a lot further than that” by forbidding civil unions and domestic partnerships, he said.

Jensen, whose firm worked for the anti-amendment campaign, believes the vote could get even more support, possibly as high as 59 percent.

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A Gallup poll released Tuesday shows that half of Americans support legalizing same-sex marriage. —TEB

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Even though Amendment One is expected to pass, a recent poll shows nearly 40 percent of North Carolina voters favor legalizing gay marriage.