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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A new poll shows the proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage enjoys strong support among Utah voters, though some have misgivings about its second part.
The proposed state constitutional amendment, which goes before voters in November, says: "Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent effect."
Opponents, including all three candidates for Utah attorney general, say the second part at wording could prevent basic legal protections for unmarried couples, such as hospital visitation or inheritance.
Supporters say the second part is essential to prevent domestic partnerships, civil unions or other arrangements they call "counterfeit marriages."
A survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV found 63 percent of the 915 registered voters polled statewide said they would vote in favor of the amendment, according to a copyright story published Monday in the newspaper.
The poll conducted Sept. 6 to 9 found 30 percent said they would vote against the amendment, and 7 percent were undecided or didn't know. The margin of error was 3 percent.
Support for amending the constitution was virtually unchanged from earlier surveys, but support for the second part of the amendment has weakened.
Eighty percent of those polled supported the first part of the amendment and 56 percent supported the second part.
Support for the proposal was strongest among those who identified themselves as very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
