A majority of Iowans intend to vote on judicial retention in the next election, but nearly half haven’t decided how they’ll vote, a University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll determined.

The poll found 87 percent intend to vote. Of them, 47 have not made up their minds how they will vote, while 37 percent say they will vote for retention and 13 percent say they’ll vote for ouster.

Three Iowa Supreme Court justices involved in the court’s unanimous ruling legalizing gay marriage in the state were ousted in the 2010 election.

Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins is up for retention in 2012, and the remaining three justices on the decision face the vote in 2016.

The poll confirmed the outcome of the last retention vote was connected to the gay marriage decision. More than 80 percent of people who believe same-sex couples shouldn’t be granted legal status supported ousting the judges. Half of respondents who support civil unions would vote not to retain, but 74 percent of people who support gay marriage disagreed with the removal of the justices.

— by Regina Zilbermints