RALEIGH, NC – The majority of residents of North Carolina oppose a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution banning gay marriage, according to a poll conducted by Elon University.

The results released last week showed that 56% of the residents oppose the amendment lawmakers okayed for ratification by the voters next May. Thirty-nine percent said that they support the ban which was a 4% drop from the same poll taken in March, 2009.

The survey of 594 people conducted between September 25 and September 29 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.02 percentage points.

The poll also indicated that though residents of North Carolina don’t favor same-sex marriage itself, they don’t want an amendment to become part of the constitution. Only 33% of respondents said they support full marriage rights for gay couples which is an increase of 12%  since March, 2009.