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Tenn. abortion amendment a surprisingly tight race

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A new poll suggests that just one week ahead of the November 4 General Election, Tennessee’s abortion amendment vote is too close to call.

A “Yes” vote on Tennessee Amendment Onewould give state lawmakers more authority to regulate the practice of abortion. Supporters say abortion should be more tightly controlled to protect women. Opponents say the amendment is an effort to deny woman access to the procedure.

The latest edition of the Middle Tennessee State University Pollout Wednesday morning says 39 percent of state residents surveyed favor the amendment. The poll found that 32 percent are opposed to Amendment One. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.

MTSU Pollsters Ken Blake and Jason Reineke note that, just one week ahead of the General Election, 15 percent of voters surveyed are still undecided.

Dr. Blake says the vote is falling along fairly predictable lines.

“We find that 43 percent of Tennesseans who self-identify as Evangelical Christians support the amendment. That’s compared to only 29 percent of Tennesseans who don’t identify that way. There’s also a gender split. Thirty-four percent of women favor the amendment, compared to -- significantly more – 44 percent of men.”

Blake says there is also a racial component to the poll’s findings. Forty-seven percent of white voters favor Amendment One, while only 18 only percent of minority residents are in favor.

The MTSU Poll surveyed 600 registered Tennessee voters.