A survey shows that one-third of Illinois voters will go to the polls only with abortion on their minds.

And as the sun set Monday, so did the 17th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision that legalized abortions through Roe vs. Wade. Since that time, the only light shed on the issue seems to be that the controversy goes far deeper than society’s debates and has infected, and most likely will influence, the nation’s politics.

Statewide results of NIU’s Annual Illinois Policy Survey show 36 percent of 800 Illinoisans surveyed would switch their vote to a candidate they agree with on the abortion issue.

“It is unusual because voting studies in general just don’t show people to vote on any single issue,” said Ellen Dran, a research associate with NIU’s Center for Governmental Studies. The only other issue to gain such weight in voters’ decisions was gun control, she said.

A recent college freshmen poll by UCLA and the American Council on Education stated a more than 7 percent increase of freshmen supporting legalized abortion.

Instead of voting for a candidate on one single issue, people should “really look closely at their past policies and stances,” said Feminist Front leader Julie Stege.

Stege said voters should stay away from choosing candidates based solely on one issue and should instead choose the candidate who holds many similar views.

She also warned against candidates who change their positions during the midst of an election campaign, and said candidate’s actions are signals of their particular positions.

“Personally, I think a lot of people would change their vote,” said Julie Synovic, co-vice president of Students United for Life. Synovic declined to comment on behalf of the organization, explaining the organization’s bylaws prohibit the group from expressing political and religious views.

Concerns for those on either side of the abortion battle arise because in the coming November elections, Illinois voters will choose a new governor and vote in the elections of all members of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

More than half of Illinois voters surveyed said public officials should follow the wishes of the majority of the people or public opinion polls when voting on issues.

Republican Jim Edgar, although his party is usually against abortion, and Democrat Neil Hartigan, the two front-runners in the race for governor, have taken pro-choice positions.

Since the July 1989 Supreme Court ruling on the Webster vs. Reproductive Health Service case, states have had the option to regulate certain conditions for abortions.

Many candidates are taking the majority’s advice by adapting to what polls have shown since the Webster decision, Dran said.

Abortions are still legal in Illinois, after several proposed bills to limit their access within the state have been vetoed by Republican Gov. James Thompson.

The survey also noted 78 percent of those questioned believe abortions will continue if Illinois outlawed the procedure.