New Jersey Voters Support Gay Marriage 46-42

With 12 percent “unsure,” some 46 percent of registered New Jersey voters say they support same-sex marriage legislation, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, which asked 903 residents. MORE: “The survey also shows that if the state Legislature passes a bill legalizing gay marriage, 52 percent would accept the decision, while 40 percent would support a constitutional amendment banning the practice. … Women are more likely than men to support gay marriage here, 51 percent to 42 percent, and younger residents (under 40) are more supportive than their older counterparts, by 53 percent to 43 percent. About half the Latino (52 percent) and white (49 percent) respondents favor same-sex marriage, but only 29 percent of blacks feel the same way.” Then again, some 44 percent of respondents say same-sex marriage is “not at all important.” Luckily, that apathy isn’t so big a deal: New Jersey wouldn’t let voters repeal lawmakers’ decision. The good news, then, is that activists can take the results to lawmakers to show them a vote for marriage won’t hurt their standing with constituents.