Politics1 min read

US poll shows death penalty lost majority support for first time since 1971

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The new survey revealed that 49 percent of Americans back capital punishment for convicted murderers, marking the lowest support level registered since 1966. Generational and partisan gaps remain wide, with just 39 percent of adults under 30 and 28 percent of Democrats expressing favor. Although 23 states have abolished the practice and four have suspended it, former President Donald Trump expanded federal executions during his first term and pledged to continue using them.

Key points

  • National support for capital punishment has dropped below 50 percent for the first time i…: National support for capital punishment has dropped below 50 percent for the first time in more than five decades.
  • Legal challenges surrounding botched executions and lethal injection methods continue to…: Legal challenges surrounding botched executions and lethal injection methods continue to provoke constitutional scrutiny under cruel and unusual punishment protections.
  • Federal and state practices increasingly diverge, with many states pausing executions whi…: Federal and state practices increasingly diverge, with many states pausing executions while federal policy under Donald Trump favored expanded use.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Support for capital punishment has been declining in the US for years over concerns such as fairness and racial bias.

A new Gallup poll has found that support for the death penalty in the United States has fallen below 50 percent, marking the first time that the controversial practice has lost majority support since 1971.

The poll released on Tuesday found that 49 percent of people said they are in favour of capital punishment for those convicted of murder, the lowest level since 1966, while 45 percent say they are opposed.

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“While statistically similar to last year’s 52 percent, the latest update marks the first time support has been below the majority level since 1971, when it was also at 49 percent,” Gallup said in a statement.

Support for the…

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