North Carolina Gay Marriage Ban Likely to Pass Today

North Carolina heads to the polls today, and the ballot issue getting the most attention is the state’s proposed ban on gay marriage. Though same-sex marriage has gotten some high-level support in the past few days, supporters of the amendment have been marching and running ads of their own urging voters to vote in favor of the ban, the AP reports, and experts think it will pass. Prior to today, more than 500,000 voters had cast their ballots—more than during the 2008 primary—and both sides are claiming that as a good sign.

The final Public Policy Poll on the issue found that supporters led opponents 55% to 39%, even though 53% of North Carolina voters support either gay marriage or civil unions. Many don’t understand that the amendment bans both, PPP explains; North Carolina already has a law on the books banning gay marriage, and this one goes further by including other types of domestic unions. The Winston-Salem City Council voted last night to officially oppose the amendment, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. (More gay marriage stories.)