News & observer

News & Observer: Voters still deeply divided over same-sex marriage, poll shows

A new poll shows North Carolinians remain strongly divided over whether marriage between same-sex couples should be recognized as just as valid as traditional marriage.

But the American Insights poll, released Wednesday, found registered voters in the state think voters and not judges should decide that issue, and a majority oppose Attorney General Roy Cooper’s decision not to defend the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which voters approved in 2012.

“While a strong majority of North Carolina voters supported traditional marriage over same-sex marriage by passing Amendment One in 2012, they remain deeply divided over the issue today,” said poll director Pearce Godwin in a news release. “What’s very clear from this poll is that voters, by more than two to one, believe they not the courts should have the power to determine marriage law for the state.”