FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2025
Contact: Loretta Kane (loretta@caminopr.com or 917-410-7240)
Strong bipartisan support for increasing access to contraception; voters reject efforts to decrease access
Majorities in every party want policymakers to improve contraceptive access including state and federal protections, expanding no-cost coverage and relying on medical science instead of personal views to shape policies.
Democrats and Independents very worried about potential rollback of contraceptive access. Voters from all parties would strongly oppose any rollbacks, including emergency contraception and IUDs.
Majorities of all voters — including conservatives — reject efforts to treat emergency contraception as abortion; only 4% of voters want policymakers to make it harder to access contraception.
WASHINGTON – A new poll finds that a strong bipartisan majority of voters personally favor increasing access to contraception in the United States, including support for state and federal legislation and expanding mandated no-cost insurance coverage for over-the-counter contraception.
“Support for contraception is a rare point of unity across the country, yet a partisan gridlock has blocked important gains and, in some states, has worsened access for those most vulnerable,” said Dana Singiser, co-founder of the Contraceptive Access Initiative. “This poll clearly demonstrates a mandate for policymakers across party lines to embrace measures that will help people access the birth control that is right for them.”
Democrats and Independents are significantly worried about rollbacks in contraceptive access; while most Republicans are not worried, they would be firmly opposed to such action. Across party lines, voters support proactive measures that protect access to the full range of contraceptive methods, including emergency contraception and IUDs. Voters are also firmly in favor of expanding the contraceptive mandate for insurers to include no-cost over-the-counter contraceptive coverage.
A second type of over-the-counter birth control pill — used by over 90% of pill users — may face final FDA review during the Trump administration. This pill, medically called a combined oral contraceptive (COC), is distinct from the current over-the-counter option (a progestin-only pill often called the “mini-pill”). Across party lines, voters favor the COC pill becoming available for over-the-counter use, and 90% of women aged 18-34 support zero-cost coverage for over-the-counter contraception.
“The country has the opportunity to make significant gains in contraceptive access, including the approval of a second type of birth control pill being reviewed for over-the-counter access,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide and chief medical officer for the Contraceptive Access Initiative. “This poll is a refreshing reminder of the deep support for ensuring that all people who are seeking contraception have the opportunity to choose the method that is right for them.”
The false redefinition of certain contraceptives — primarily emergency contraception and IUDs — as abortion has been at the heart of extreme conservative, anti-abortion political battles over contraception policy, but voters, including Republicans, firmly reject this premise. Across party lines, only 3% of voters want policymakers to make it harder to access contraception. Additionally, majorities want policymakers to rely on medical science when writing policy, not personal opinion.
A major distinction between conservatives and progressives is a belief about whether the Trump administration or state elected officials will roll back access to contraception. Most conservatives do not believe this will occur; almost all Democrats believe it could occur. While this leads conservatives to lower the priority of advancing pro-contraceptive legislation, they strongly support measures that do just that at the federal and state level.
This poll was conducted in December 2024 by Bellwether Research on behalf of the Contraceptive Access Initiative (CAI). Results can be found here.
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The nonprofit Contraceptive Access Initiative advocates for increasing access to contraception, free from stigma, bias and coercion. CAI supports affordable over-the-counter access to oral contraception without restrictions. Our work reduces misinformation and challenges disinformation, while uplifting educational content that helps people make the choices that are right for them.