All Over Albany

Polls: public leaning toward support of same-sex marriage. Probably.

Efforts to get a bill legalizing same-sex marriage through the state legislature have been ramping up (as has the opposition). Here are how a few recent polls have measured the public's opinion on the issue (all numbers for registered voters):

NY1/YNN-Marist poll conducted April 25-29

Do you believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman?
Yes: 51% | No: 47% | Don't know: 2%

Which of the following comes closest to your view?
Gay or lesbian couples should be allowed to marry: 51%
Gay or lesbian couples should be allowed to legally form civil unions, but not marry: 28%
There should be no legal recognition of the relationship between gay or lesbian couples: 21%

margin of error: +/- 3.5 - poll data

Quinnipiac poll conducted April 5-11

Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Support: 56% | Oppose: 38% | Don't know: 5%

margin of error: +/- 2.4 - poll data

Siena poll conducted April 4-6

Do you support or oppose making same sex marriages legal in New York State?
Support: 58% | Oppose: 36% | Don't know: 6%

margin of error: +/- 3.5 - poll data

Nationally: it appears a majority of Americans now support legalizing same-sex marriage. [FiveThirtyEight]
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Of course, in some ways, the only opinion that matters right now is that of the legislators who represent potential swing votes in the state Senate (the bill will almost certainly pass the Assembly). The last vote on the issue in the chamber -- in December 2009 -- was 38-24 against.

photo: Matt Ryan