An Iowa equal marriage poll published in the Des Moines Register demonstrates a deeply-rooted anti-marriage sentiment in the state. The first poll taken since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized marriage between same-sex partners splits the electorate rather evenly: in a hypothetical amendment vote, 41% would vote to restrict marriage to between men-and-women, and 40% would vote to continue marriage as it exists in Iowa now.

However, the numbers do not skew quite so evenly, with marriage opponents putting much more weight behind their opinions. 35% of opponents are “strongly” against equal marriage, while those who strongly support it compose only 18%.

The poll does shed some positive light for marriage equality advocates. 92% of respondents say that the marriage ruling hasn’t really changed their lives:

Celinda Lake, a national Democratic pollster, has polled on the issue of gay marriage in Iowa since 2004. She said the minority of Iowans who consider the court decision a top ballot-box issue is consistent with her research.

“What we found is Iowa has always had fewer single-issue voters on gay marriage than a lot of other states even in the Midwest,” Lake said. “Now what we’re seeing nationwide, the issue has really receded. So, people are not particularly focused on it as a voting issue.”

To pass a constitutional amendment, the Iowa General Assembly must pass a resolution in concurrent legislative sessions, before the issue goes to a statewide ballot.