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A majority of New York voters approves allowing same-sex marriage, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll conducted last week as the state Senate debated, then narrowly approved, a bill that would allow homosexual couples to marry.

(MAP: Where is Same-Sex Marriage Legal?)

According to the poll, released early Tuesday, 54 percent of voters support "a law that would allow same-sex couples to marry," while 40 percent would oppose such a law. Support is down slightly from a poll conducted last month that showed a new high, 58 percent, supported a same-sex marriage law.

Democrats support allowing same-sex marriages, 67 percent to 28 percent, while Republicans oppose the law. 63 to 30 percent. A majority of independents, 56 percent, supports the law.

There is no gender gap in the poll, with 53 percent of men and 55 percent of women supporting the law.

There is an age gap, however: 70 percent of voters aged 18-34 support the law, while just 37 percent of voters aged 65 and over support it. But more middle-aged voters also tilt in favor of the law: 57 percent of those aged 35-49 and 59 percent of those 50-64 say they support allowing same-sex marriage.

After a lengthy debate, the Republican-held state Senate passed the gay marriage bill Friday evening, 33 to 29. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law later that night. The law takes effect in late July.