A proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in North Dakota has the support of most voters, but not overwhelmingly.

According to a poll conducted this week for The Forum and WDAY-TV, 52 percent of likely voters in the state will vote for Measure No. 1.

The poll found 36 percent of likely voters oppose the amendment, and 11 percent are undecided.

The constitutional amendment needs a simple majority to pass.

"People plan to support it, but what surprises us is that a lot of the polls taken in other states (on proposed marriage amendments) ... numbers are running 70 percent," said Jim Danielson, professor of political science and co-director of the Public Affairs Institute at Minnesota State University Moorhead, which conducted the poll.

Eleven states will vote on constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage Nov. 2.

Polls by a Louisville, Ky., TV station have shown support in that state floating between the low- to mid-70-percent range.

A survey done last week for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette shows a 65 percent approval of a state same-sex marriage amendment.

In Ohio, 57 percent of voters support the state's measure, according to a University of Cincinnati poll.

The battle has been considered the closest in Oregon. A recent CNN-USA Today-Gallup survey shows 50 percent of voters there favor the ban, while 42 percent oppose it.

Missouri voters approved a ban Aug. 3 with 71 percent of the vote. Louisiana approved a same-sex measure Sept. 18 with 78 percent of the vote, although it was later struck down by a district judge because the ballot question addressed more than one issue.

Christina Rondeau, executive director of the North Dakota Family Alliance, said she was surprised support for the amendment was relatively low in a conservative state like North Dakota.

She said some voters may have been influenced by "concerted efforts to spin an issue," making the amendment seem bigoted and prejudiced.

"This is nothing to do with those kind of issues," Rondeau said. "This is about what's good for marriage."

She's also noticed what she calls a "libertarian conservative" attitude in the state. Some citizens have a "hands-off" approach and don't want to amend the constitution, she said.

This is reflected in the poll results. About 19 percent of very conservative voters are against the amendment.

"Very conservative people who place an emphasis on individualism would be likely to adopt the attitude, 'it's not a matter for government, it's a matter for the individual,'" said Philip Baumann, a political science professor and co-director of the Public Affairs Institute.

None who labeled themselves as "very liberal" supported the amendment.

Robert Uebel, chairman of Equality North Dakota that is pushing a "no" vote, said the results were "fantastic."

"People understand that the Family Alliance's arguments don't hold water," Uebel said. "I think it shows our message is getting out there."

The group has been targeting young voters and college campuses.

According to the polls, 57 percent of students oppose the constitutional measure, while 36 percent support it and the remainder were undecided. Voters under 30 appear to be less supportive of the amendment.

"It confirms the strategies we've been working with so far," Uebel said. "Most of these results speak the fact that there is a lot of opposition to this amendment outside the GLBT community."

Only 6 percent of those surveyed said the amendment is the most important issue facing North Dakota this election year.

Of those, 80 percent support the constitutional change.

The amendment also garners great support from voters who believe more emphasis on religion is needed in politics and government. More than 70 percent of these voters will vote for Measure No. 1, according to the poll.

Among voters who believe religion is a private matter, 41 percent said they will vote for the amendment while 43 percent would vote against it.

Rondeau said those numbers do not mean the amendment is a religious issue.

"It is because their religious faith affirms a societal norm, a societal good," she said.

The Family Alliance gathered 42,000 signatures to put the measure on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Measure No. 1 reads: "Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect."

Rondeau is confident the amendment has enough support to pass.

"I would be surprised if the numbers at the voting booth don't shift in our favor," Rondeau said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Sherri Richards at (701) 241-5525