Abortion in the United States

===By circumstance or reasons===
According to Gallup's long-time polling on abortion, the majority of Americans are neither strictly "pro-life" or "pro-choice"; it depends upon the circumstances of the pregnancy. Gallup polling from 1996 to 2021 consistently reveals that when asked the question, "Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?", Americans repeatedly answer "legal only under certain circumstances". According to the poll, in any given year 48–57% say legal only under certain circumstances, 21–34% say legal under any circumstances, and 13–19% illegal in all circumstances, with 1–7% having no opinion.<ref name="gallup1"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! style="width:125px;"|
! style="width:100px;"| Legal under any circumstances
! style="width:100px;"| Legal only under certain circumstances
! style="width:100px;"| Illegal in all circumstances
! style="width:100px;"| No opinion
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2021 May 3–18 || 32% || 48% || 19% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2020 May 1–13 || 29% || 50% || 20% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2019 May 1–12 || 25% || 53% || 21% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2018 May 1–10 || 29% || 50% || 18% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2017 May 3–7 || 29% || 50% || 18% || 3%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2016 May 4–8 || 29% || 50% || 19% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2015 May 6–10 || 29% || 51% || 19% || 1%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2014 May 8–11 || 28% || 50% || 21% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2013 May 2–7 || 26% || 52% || 20% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2012 Dec 27–30 || 28% || 52% || 18% || 3%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2012 May 3–6 || 25% || 52% || 20% || 3%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2011 Jul 15–17 || 26% || 51% || 20% || 3%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2011 June 9–12 || 26% || 52% || 21% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2011 May 5–8 || 27% || 49% || 22% || 3%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2009 Jul 17–19 || 21% || 57% || 18% || 4%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2009 May 7–10 || 22% || 53% || 23% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2008 May 8–11 || 28% || 54% || 18% || 2%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2007 May 10–13 || 26% || 55% || 17% || 1%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2006 May 8–11 || 30% || 53% || 15% || 2%
|}

According to the aforementioned poll,<ref name="gallup1"/> Americans differ drastically based upon situation of the pregnancy, suggesting they do not support unconditional abortions. Based on two separate polls taken May 19–21, 2003, of 505 and 509 respondents respectively, Americans stated their approval for abortion under these various circumstances:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Poll Criteria !! Total !! Poll A !! Poll B
|-
| When the woman's life is endangered || 78% || 82% || 75%
|-
| When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest || 65% || 72% || 59%
|-
| When the child would be born with a life-threatening illness || 54% || 60% || 48%
|-
| When the child would be born mentally disabled || 44% || 50% || 38%
|-
| When the woman does not want the child for any reason || 32% || 41% || 24%
|}

Another separate trio of polls taken by Gallup in 2003, 2000, and 1996,<ref name="gallup1"/> revealed public support for abortion as follows for the given criteria:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Poll criteria !! 2003 Poll !! 2000 Poll !! 1996 Poll
|-
| When the woman's life is endangered || 85% || 84% || 88%
|-
| When the woman's physical health is endangered || 77% || 81% || 82%
|-
| When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest || 76% || 78% || 77%
|-
| When the woman's mental health is endangered || 63% || 64% || 66%
|-
| When there is evidence that the baby may be physically impaired || 56% || 53% || 53%
|-
| When there is evidence that the baby may be mentally impaired || 55% || 53% || 54%
|-
| When the woman or family cannot afford to raise the child || 35% || 34% || 32%
|}

Gallup furthermore established public support for many issues supported by the anti-abortion community and opposed by the abortion rights community:<ref name="gallup1"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Legislation !! 2011 Poll !! 2003 Poll !! 2000 Poll !! 1996 Poll
|-
| A law requiring doctors to inform patients about [[alternatives to abortion]] before performing the procedure || || 88% || 86% || 86%
|-
| A law requiring women seeking abortions to wait 24 hours before having the procedure done || 69% || 78% || 74% || 73%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Legislation !! 2005 Poll !! 2003 Poll !! 1996 Poll !! 1992 Poll
|-
| A law requiring women under 18 to get parental consent for any abortion || 69% || 73% || 74% || 70%
|-
| A law requiring that the husband of a married woman be notified if she decides to have an abortion || 64% || 72% || 70% || 73%
|}

An October 2007 [[CBS News]] poll explored under what circumstances Americans believe abortion should be allowed, asking the question, "What is your personal feeling about abortion?" The results were as follows:<ref name="pollingreport" />
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|- style="background:#a0d0ff;"
!|Permitted in all cases!!Permitted, but subject to greater restrictions than it is now!!Only in cases such as rape, incest, or to save the woman's life!!Only permitted to save the woman's life||Never||Unsure
|-
|width=120| 26%||16%||34%||16%||4%||4%
|}