Couple leaving abortion decision to online poll

A COUPLE have said they are leaving the decision about whether they should get an abortion up to an online poll posted on a website showing ultrasounds of their healthy, 16-week-old foetus dubbed “Wiggles”.

Pete and Alisha Arnold, of Minnesota, both 30, said they have been married for 10 years and went through two miscarriages earlier this year.

They said they set up www.birthornot.com because they are not sure if they are ready for parenthood, and in an interview posted on Gawker.com insisted the website is nota prank or a convoluted anti-abortion campaign.

“We are taking this very seriously,” Mr Arnold told Gawker, adding that while the poll will influence their decision heavily, it won’t be binding.

“It’s kind of like Congress. They might vote for something, but the president has the final veto. If it’s overwhelming one way or the other, that will carry a lot more weight.”

The poll results were split before the article was posted, but the publicity garnered a significant amount of votes — and vitriolic comments — and was at 81% in favour of giving birth and 19% in favour of an abortion by last night.

One third of 545 commentators on the site were against abortion.

The couple plan to keep the poll open until December 7 — two days before the pregnancy will be too far along to be legally terminated in Minnesota.