Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy organization, the survey asked 1,000 Americans likely to vote in the 2016 general election about a potential federal bill to "prohibit" LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, jury selection, and access to public places.

Pollsters didn't ask, however, about the topic dominating state legislatures over the past year when it comes to LGBT politics: whether voters think such laws should contain religious exemptions.

Sixty-nine percent of American voters — including 51% of Republicans — want a federal law that prohibits discriminating against someone based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a new national poll released.

"If Americans knew their affirmation of the question in this poll would have such disastrous results, the numbers would look much different,” one opponent said.

Nearly seven-in-ten said yes, while 27% were opposed. The remaining 4% were undecided.

“This poll predictably asks a half-question," Greg Scott of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal and advocacy group, told BuzzFeed News.

Such a law would "increase the government’s coercive power" in arenas of free speech and exercise of faith, Scott argued. "If Americans knew their affirmation of the question in this poll would have such disastrous results, the numbers would look much different.”

An Associated Press-GfK poll in January highlighted Americans' mixed feelings on LGBT rights and religious liberty: While Americans were largely split on same-sex marriage, a 57%-39% majority support exemptions that would allow businesses, such as bakers who sell wedding cakes, to deny service to same-sex couples.

That tension between faith and LGBT rights may only grow after the Supreme Court rules on same-sex marriage in June, a decision many court observers expect to lead to nationwide marriage equality. Today's poll comes as advocacy groups and lawmakers plan their post-marriage strategy.

A big part of that strategy involves federal nondiscrimination legislation: Democratic lawmakers are expected to introduce such a bill this year — but its scope is unclear.

The robust support found in the poll released Tuesday poll could make the case for introducing an omnibus nondiscrimination bill this spring — even in a Congress controlled by Republicans — instead of a more narrowly tailored bill like others that failed in previous years.

For more than a decade, LGBT advocates have backed bills — with some Republican support — that would ban discrimination in the workplace, known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA. Although versions have passed one or the other chamber, the bill has never been passed by both chambers in the same session — meaning it has never gotten to a president for the decision whether to sign or veto it.

But, the new polling backs the even more sweeping proposal that HRC and other groups have said they would be supporting in this Congress. Rep. David Cicilline, one of several out gay members of the House, has said he will be taking the lead on the legislation in that chamber.

While support was strongest among Democrats, 80% to 18%, coveted independent voters were close behind with 72% support. A narrow majority of Republican respondents said they support a nondiscrimination law, 51%, while 43% of Republicans were opposed — inside the poll's 4.78% margin of error for GOP voters.

Those figures could shore up support among conservative Democratic and liberal Republican lawmakers by showing there is political safety in voting for a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill. Conversely, the poll makes a case there is risk in voting against it.