Public support for marriage equality has dropped 4% in a fortnight and opposition is up 3%, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.

With the postal survey campaign now in full swing, and with analysis suggesting opponents of marriage equality have outspent the yes campaign by about five-to-one in television ads, the latest poll shows 55% (down 4% from a fortnight ago) support changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry and 34% (up 3%) are opposed.

But while support for a yes vote has fallen as the no campaign has intensified its efforts to raise concerns about religious freedom, including with public interventions by the former prime minister John Howard, there is a structural upside for the yes campaign – given the postal survey will turn ultimately on efforts to get out the vote in a non-compulsory ballot. Read more via the Guardian