(CNSNews.com) - A new poll released Wednesday shows over two-thirds of Massachusetts voters want to vote on traditional marriage.

According to the Zogby International poll, 69 percent of likely voters in the state want to vote on a constitutional amendment to keep Massachusetts a traditional marriage state, the Coalition for Marriage announced Wednesday.

"It seems the more people consider the long-term impact of homosexual marriage on the family and society, the more they oppose homosexual marriage," said Dr. Ron Crews, spokesman for the Coalition for Marriage, a broad-based, non-partisan organization comprised of a growing list of members who advocate in Massachusetts for marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The poll also found that 69 percent of respondents felt it was better for children to be raised in a household with a married mother and father.

Half of all respondents said they think the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overstepped its bounds in its decision to redefine marriage.

Also, 73 percent of those surveyed felt that if homosexual couples want to provide for each other, they can continue to do so through private arrangements already allowed under the law.

"The institution of marriage does not need to be redefined for people to provide for each other, and when it comes to changing institution of marriage, voters are saying, 'enough is enough," said Crews.

The poll indicated that voters' opposition to homosexual marriage would impact their decision about political candidates.

When asked if they would be more or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports homosexual marriage, more than twice the number of voters (33 percent) would be less rather than more likely (16 percent) to vote for a pro-homosexual marriage candidate. Forty-eight percent of voters said it made no difference.

"It's clear that citizens will be making judgments in the voting booth based on a candidate's position on homosexual marriage - and twice as many voters want candidates to oppose homosexual marriage rather than support it," Crews said.

The Zogby poll was conducted from December 16-18, 2003, and 601 voters, chosen at random, were surveyed. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

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