Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed say it is more important to treat everyone equally than to accommodate someone’s religious beliefs when the two principles conflict. That view held sway across a broad range of Americans, including majorities of self-identified Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives.

Moreover, nearly half of those surveyed — 45 percent — supported the decision by a federal judge to send Davis to jail for not complying with his order to issue the licenses. An additional 16 percent say Davis should be forced to issue the licenses but opposed jail time.

The poll comes as the country debates the right of private citizens, business owners and government officials to opt out of condoning or participating in same-sex marriages in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that gay couples have a constitutional right to wed.