New Poll: Hawaiians Split on Marriage Equality

A new poll by the Hawaiian newspaper the Honolulu Civil Beat finds voters from the Aloha State are divided when it comes to marriage equality with 44 percent backing same-sex marriage and 44 percent against it.

The Civil Beat reports that just "a handful of residents surveyed" said they are not sure about gay marriage.

Though marriage equality is split among Hawaiians, the Civil Beat reports support is up from April 2012, when the newspaper conducted a similar survey and found that 51 percent did not believe same-sex couples should have the right to tie the knot. Only 37 percent backed gay marriage and 12 percent were undecided.

"This is the trend of the country," Matt Fitch, executive director of Merriman River Group, which conducted the Civil Beat Poll, told the newspaper. "It is just something that people are moving on from. I think this is becoming less of a flashpoint. Not only that, those opposed to it are less fervent as well."

The latest poll from the Civil Beat surveyed 819 registered voters in Hawaii from Oct. 9-10.

Next week, Hawaii's Legislature will hold a special session on Oct. 28 and will focus on gay marriage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state House and Senate Democrats, which control both chambers, believe the marriage equality bill will pass, Civil Beat reports.

According to the poll, half of the people surveyed said that religion does not impact their views on gay marriage but one-fourth said it was a "major" factor.