Posted on Jul 14, 2009 | by Michael Foust

DES MOINES, Iowa (BP)--In the first statewide survey since the Iowa Supreme Court's landmark "gay marriage" ruling, a new poll shows that just over two-thirds of the state's voters support placing a constitutional marriage amendment on the ballot.

The survey of 500 registered voters by Voter/Consumer Research was released Monday, more than three months after the court made the state the first in the heartland to recognize "marriages" between homosexuals.

The proposed marriage amendment -- proposed immediately after the ruling by state legislative Republicans but blocked by Democratic leaders -- likely will be an issue in next year's gubernatorial and General Assembly races. One candidate for the GOP nomination, Bob Vander Plaats, has pledged to make it a central theme of his campaign.

In the poll, 67 percent of voters support placing an amendment on the ballot while 27 percent believe the issue of "gay marriage" is best decided by the state Supreme Court.

The poll asked, "The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled gay marriages can legally be conducted in the state. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision, do you think Iowa voters should have the chance to vote on a traditional marriage amendment to the constitution or is the issue best decided by the Supreme Court?"

The survey was conducted for TheIowaRepublican.com website. Among Republicans surveyed, 87 percent favor putting the amendment on the ballot.

Bryan English, a spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, told the website that the poll numbers should open eyes.

"Public opinion on marriage is consistently a 65-70 percent issue, and the numbers tell us that Iowans want the right to vote on the Iowa Marriage Amendment," he said. "How the political class responds to these numbers will help separate the wheat from the chaff among those who seek office in 2010."
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Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press. To read how "gay marriage" impacts parental rights and religious freedom click here.