56 percent of voters support gay-marriage ban in Florida; 60 percent needed to pass

BY BETH REINHARD, breinhard@MiamiHerald.com

A majority of Florida voters back a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, though the level of support is just shy of the 60 percent required for approval, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Thursday.

The survey found 56 percent favor Amendment 2, while 37 percent oppose it and 7 percent are undecided. The Oct. 20-21 survey of 625 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

''While the current support level remains below the 60 percent threshold, it still has a good shot at voter ratification,'' said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. ``In other ballot amendment and initiative votes in other states, undecided voters have generally broken strongly in support of gay marriage bans.''

Two other constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot are not as close to passage. Amendment 4, which would cut taxes for property owners who set aside land for conservation, received support from 43 percent. Amendment 6, which would protect waterfront property owners from big tax increases, garnered 45 percent.

Only 38 percent of the voters said they would support a sales tax measure to increase funding for community colleges.