Polls Show Surge in African-American Support for Maryland Marriage Equality (Question 6)

Marylanders for Marriage Equality today touts the surge in African American support for a "vote for" Question 6. See the press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

Three New Polls Show Momentum for Question 6,
Surge in African-American Support

BALTIMORE - Three polls in the past week show more Marylanders support Question 6, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, than oppose it. Two of them reflect a surge of support among African-American voters compared to earlier in the year.

"The polls continue to show Marylanders believe in treating everyone fairly and equally under the law," said Josh Levin, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. "We can feel the momentum for Question Six, but take nothing for granted. Polls will tighten in the final weeks, so this remains a very close race."

Over the weekend, a Baltimore Sun poll showed more than half of African-American voters support marriage equality, with a quarter opposed. The Sun noted this is a "dramatic" and "profound" shift of 10 points among black voters compared to its poll done earlier in the year. A Gonzales Research poll also out last week found the same 10-point jump among black voters.

The Sun poll found 49% of all voters favor marriage equality, with 39% opposed. But Gonzales, and a third poll by The Mellman Group, indicated a majority of voters (51% to 43% in Gonzales, 54% to 30% in Mellman) would support Question 6. Both surveys asked the actual wording that will appear on the ballot. Hart Research also finds supporters up 54% to 40% when using the ballot language.

"In the coming days and weeks, we're bracing for an onslaught of misinformation from our opponents," said Levin, "which can easily take this thing in a different direction. So we're re-doubling our efforts to make sure voters know Question 6 is about fairness and equality under the law."

Marylanders for Marriage Equality is the diverse coalition made up of 1199 SEIU of Maryland, NAACP Baltimore, ACLU of Maryland, Equality Maryland, the Human Rights Campaign working to protect marriage on the November ballot.

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