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Des Moines, IA — A majority of Iowans do not believe gay marriage should be discussed by the Legislature, according to the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll.

Sixty-two percent of respondents told the paper that gay marriage doesn't deserve the time of lawmakers, thirty-six percent said it did, and two percent were unsure.

The poll, which has a 3.5% margin of error, comes on the day that Republican lawmakers are expected to act on the issue.

Gay rights group One Iowa has warned that it believes Republicans will attempt on Monday to fish a bill that seeks to define marriage as a heterosexual union in the Iowa Constitution out of committee and put it up for a floor vote. Committee members have not acted on Democratic state Representative Michael Reasoner's proposed bill that aims to overturn the Iowa Supreme Court's April 3, 2009 ruling legalizing gay marriage.

The procedural move to pull a bill out of committee requires a 51 vote majority. Seven Democrats would have to cross the aisle and vote with Republicans for the procedure to succeed. At least one Democrat, Reasoner, is expected to do that.

Last year, Republicans made several attempts to bring a similar measure to the floor. Democratic leaders, however, managed to block the efforts.

Amending the Iowa Constitution is a lengthy process that requires the approval of two consecutive legislative sessions followed by a ballot initiative.

The survey is based on telephone interviews with 805 adult Iowans. 

Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine