Support for use of the death penalty on persons convicted of murder has hit a 39-year low in the U.S. after dropping from 64 to 61 percent, according to a new Gallup survey. Thirty-five percent of Americans said they disapprove of the death penalty, while four percent had no opinion.

Gallup carried out the survey on the heels of two controversial cases: the execution of Troy Davis and the Supreme Court ruling on Cory Maples.

Support for capital punishment was at its highest in 1994 (80 percent) and lowest in 1966 (42 percent). It has dropped 19 points in the last 17 years. Here is the relevant historical graph:

In another interesting finding from the survey, seventy three percent of Republicans support the death penalty, compared to only 46 percent of Democrats.

Again, you can read the full report here.