A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that New Jersey residents are supportive of legalizing gay marriage in their state by a 57 – 37 margin. The poll was conducted in late February, after Governor Chris Christie “conditionally” vetoed a bill that would have granted marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples in the state, which may lead to pro-gay marriage forces forcing a referendum in the fall. No state has ever approved gay marriage in a statewide referendum.
New Jersey residents seem to appreciate being given the option to vote. Despite the fact that Christie’s position is at odds with most polled, two thirds of state residents say they support the idea of a referendum.
But there is still some conflicting data on full gay marriage rights. If given the choice to legalize gay marraige or not, NJ residents are for it. But when asked “Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships?”, 47 percent of repondents said that gay marraige should be legal, 34 said civil unions suffice, and 13 said neither should be legal.
“So the New Jersey State Legislature passed same-sex marriage and Gov. Christopher Christie vetoed it. What’s left, for now anyway, is a political issue,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
